Western Notes: Pelicans, Harris, Franklin
Ryan Anderson will be out indefinitely with a herniated disk, the Pelicans announced today (link via Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com). Anderson has been mentioned in a few trade rumors, but didn’t seem likely to be moved this season. Still, if he’s expected to miss a significant amount of time, it could have an impact on New Orleans’ roster decisions before the trade deadline. The team is currently carrying 14 players, leaving one opening available.
Here’s more from the NBA’s better half:
- After indicating last night that the Thunder were researching D-League standout Manny Harris, Sam Amick of USA Today follows up by tweeting that Harris had an interview with members of OKC’s front office this week, as the team does its due diligence.
- The Grizzlies have recalled Jamaal Franklin from the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. Franklin was assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Sunday, and played with the team yesterday in Reno as part of the 2014 D-League Showcase.
- Dewayne Dedmon was released by the Warriors earlier this season, but Golden State still has interest in bringing him back, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, adding that Dedmon is meeting with three NBA clubs in Reno today.
Nuggets Actively Shopping Andre Miller
4:50pm: There’s a strong belief within the league that the Nuggets are looking to move Miller in the next 24-48 hours, tweets Wojnarowski.
4:49pm: The Kings have been proactive in talks for Miller, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
12:53pm: The Warriors don’t intend to make a move for Miller, TNT’s David Aldridge writes in his weekly Morning Tip column at NBA.com.
8:25am: Despite formally rescinding his two-game suspension, the Nuggets are actively trying to trade Andre Miller, according to Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post. Miller has been excused from team activities for the last several days following a confrontation with head coach Brian Shaw, and his suspension was only lifted to allow him to continue receiving his salary.
While a report on Friday suggested that the Nuggets were probably still “a ways away” from moving Miller, and that a deal could happen closer to next month’s trade deadline, Dempsey says the veteran point guard “won’t be part of the Nuggets team much longer after he returns.”
Well before last week’s incident between Miller and Shaw, Grantland’s Zach Lowe wrote that rival teams expected Denver to trade Miller before the deadline. More recently, we’ve heard that the Warriors and Kings have some level of interest in the 37-year-old. I’d expect the teams that have been linked to Kyle Lowry, such as the Knicks, Nets, and Timberwolves, to at least kick the tires on Miller as well.
Miller, a 1999 lottery pick, is posting career-worst marks in several categories this year, including PPG (5.9), APG (3.3), and PER (14.0). Still, he’s only a year removed from a season in which he was arguably one of the league’s best backup point guards, averaging more than 26 minutes per game while playing all 82 contests.
Western Rumors: Curry, Wayns, Dedmon
The latest out of the West…
- There’s a strong chance that the Grizzlies will try and re-sign Seth Curry to a ten-day deal if he clears waivers, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Memphis waived the guard earlier today. Clubs can start inking players to ten-day deals tomorrow.
- The Clippers might also try and re-sign Maalik Wayns to a ten-day deal after waiving him earlier today, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
- Big man Dewayne Dedmon is one of the players to keep an eye on in this week’s D-League showcase, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today. Dedmon, who spent time with the Warriors this season, is averaging 16.1 points, 15.3 reb, 2.3 blocks, 1.7 steals per contest for the Warriors’ affiliate in Santa Cruz.
Notable NBA Veterans Signing In D-League
The D-League showcase runs today through Thursday in Reno, Nevada, where scouts from NBA teams have gathered to see veteran and youthful prospects alike. All 17 D-League clubs are competing, giving talent evaluators a chance to do some one-stop shopping. It’s also an opportunity for players to make a positive impression in a conspicuous forum, and several NBA veterans have entered the D-League in the past few days with eyes on doing just that.
Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors put together a complete register of D-League players with NBA experience when the D-League season began in late November, but several noteworthy names have joined the developmental circuit since then. We’ll run them down here, with their last regular season NBA action detailed in parentheses. This list also includes a bit of news, as CSNBayArea.com noted last night that the Santa Cruz Warriors, the affiliate of the Golden State Warriors, have acquired Dominic McGuire. Players commonly sign with the D-League itself rather than with individual teams, so a few of the most recent signees have yet to be placed on a club, as we note below:
- Ike Diogu, Bakersfield Jam (Spurs, 2011/12)
- Kyrylo Fesenko, D-League team TBA (Pacers, 2011/12)
- Dominic McGuire, Santa Cruz Warriors (Pacers, 2012/13)
- Chris Smith, D-League team TBA (Knicks, 2013/14)
- Von Wafer, D-League team TBA
- Reggie Williams, Tulsa 66ers (Bobcats, 2012/13)
- Terrence Williams, Los Angeles D-Fenders (Celtics, 2012/13)
Pacific Notes: Warriors, Suns, Brown, Kings
The Warriors have let the WNBA know that they’re interested in taking over a franchise, a day after the Los Angeles Sparks’ ownership ceased operations, writes Michelle Smith of ESPNW. “Our ownership group has maintained their interest in operating a WNBA team in the Bay Area since acquiring the Warriors three years ago,” Warriors team spokesman Raymond Ridder said. “We’ve had exploratory conversations relating to this topic with the WNBA on several occasions since 2010, including most recently regarding the Los Angeles franchise. At this point, our dialogue remains in the exploratory stage as we evaluate the complexities of any such acquisition now or in the future.”
A few other notes around the Pacific Division.
- The Suns, rookie GM Ryan McDonough, and Coach of the Month Jeff Hornacek are exceeding expectations, writes Jan Hubbard of Sheridan Hoops. While many thought the Suns would be one of the teams tanking for the first overall draft pick, it appears the Suns will now pursue rebuilding through other means. Hubbard believes the Suns will be able to continue being successful this season without hurting their chances at being successful in the near future. Hubbard believes the Suns holding six first-round picks and max cap space will allow them to successfully rebuild in the near future.
- Former Lakers and Suns player Shannon Brown is continuing to talk to NBA teams but according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo, he is becoming more engaged with offers in China. (Twitter Link) Brown hasn’t played in the NBA this season since being traded in October from the Suns to the Wizards and then waived shortly thereafter.
- The Kings have recalled Hamady N’Diaye from their D-League affiliate after assigning him yesterday. This is the second time the Kings have sent N’Diaye to the D-League for only a day. N’Diaye has appeared in 14 games for the Kings this season, averaging 5.3 minutes in those appearances.
- Although it appeared all was going well for Derrick Williams during the seven games he started for the Kings, things have gone downhill since he has been sent to the bench. Williams started the seven games following his trade from the Timberwolves but was benched shortly after the Kings acquired Rudy Gay from the Raptors. According to James Ham of Cowbell Kingdom, Kings’ coach Michael Malone thinks Williams has been the player affected the most by the Gay trade. Malone has informed Williams, though, to keep his head up and that there is currently no pressure on him.
Zach Links and Charlie Adams contributed to this post.
Western Notes: Iguodala, Jazz, Favors
Andre Iguodala‘s averages are down, but he’s having a monster year for the Warriors, writes Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area News Group.
“The thing about Andre is he’s not afraid of the moment,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. “We’ve got guys who put the time in. He’s another guy who’s there 10, 11 o’clock at night getting shots up. You think he stumbles into that shot and he’s not afraid of it, but I’m watching him at midnight taking those same shots. So when the lights come on and the curtains open up, he’s ready and prepared. He’s once again showing why we went and got him. He’s a big-time player.”
Here’s this afternoon’s look at the Western Conference:
- Since signing his new lucrative deal with the Jazz, forward Derrick Favors has been delivering the goods, writes Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune. Favors inked a four-year, $49MM extension with Utah in the fall.
- Former Mavericks guard Darren Collison is now in the spotlight with the Clippers, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com. “I’m just glad I fell into a situation like the Clippers that’s given me the opportunity,” Collison said. “Now I have a chance to play for a contending team that’s going to give me a chance to play for something more special.”
- Former Jazz big man Kyrylo Fesenko has entered the NBA D-League player pool, a source tells Gino Pilato of D-League Digest. Fesenko last played in the NBADL during the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons with the Utah Flash. Fesenko was assigned five times during that time span by the Jazz.
Deveney’s Latest: Miller, Hawks, Iguodala
Sean Deveney’s latest piece for The Sporting News focuses on Andre Iguodala‘s impact on the Warriors, timed appropriately enough since Iggy’s three-pointer at the buzzer gave the W’s a one-point win over the Hawks tonight. He passes along a few other tidbits of note, and we’ll start with those:
- The Nuggets are “a ways away” from trading Andre Miller, a source tells Deveney, adding that a deal would probably come closer to the February 20th trade deadline. Presumably, Deveney isn’t suggesting that Miller will probably be traded and is instead referring to the timing of any deal that might involve the 37-year-old. The Nuggets rescinded Miller’s suspension today, though a source tells Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports that it was merely a gesture to allow Miller to receive his salary while he sits for two games (Twitter link).
- No moves that would help Atlanta’s front line are imminent, Deveney writes. The latest report we heard indicated that Hawks GM Danny Ferry was still deciding whether to pursue reinforcements in the wake of Al Horford‘s season-ending injury. The team apparently had talks with the Magic about Hedo Turkoglu before Orlando let go of the veteran small forward today.
- Deveney points out that Iguodala’s teams have a record of 142-89 (143-89 after tonight) over the past four years in games he plays, and 12-21 when he doesn’t. That was a reason why Golden State sought to acquire him this summer, Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob tells Deveney. “He is a winner,” Lacob said. “He knows how to win. Anyone you talked to about him, coaches or whoever it was, that was what they said.”
Berger On Asik, Lakers, Clippers, Lowry
Word is the Rockets now expect to keep center Omer Asik past next month’s deadline and beyond, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Houston worked hard to find a deal last month but the market for the big man right now isn’t so great. “Teams that are tanking don’t want him to make them better and winning teams want to steal him,” one rival GM said. On top of that, the teams with room in 2015 can sign him anyway as a free agent on a more reasonable contract. More from Berger’s column..
- For now, the Lakers intend to keep Pau Gasol and ride it out with the current group. In fact, league sources say the Lakers even inquired on Raptors guard Kyle Lowry to help patch up at the one spot, though the talks didn’t go anywhere. Things could change, however, as the temptation to dump salary and avert a date with the dreaded repeater tax will remain given their current position
- Doc Rivers is realizing the Clippers‘ roster has more holes than he initially thought and league sources say he’s is looking for frontcourt help on the trade market. It would help matters if they still had Eric Bledsoe to dangle but he went in the three-team deal that yielded J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley.
- Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are also after frontcourt help in the form of an athletic rim protector.
- League sources say the pairing of Bledsoe and Goran Dragic in the Suns backcourt isn’t expected to be a long-term solution for the Suns. Execs believe Dragic will opt out of his contract following the 2014/15 season, putting pressure on GM Ryan McDonough to make a trade. Jazz standout Gordon Hayward has put his team in a similar spot as his price may prove too high for Utah when he hits restricted free agency this summer.
- The Cavaliers and Kings have been among the most aggressive teams in pursuit of trades, league sources say. On the heels of acquiring Rudy Gay from Toronto, the Kings are “swinging for the fences” on the trade market, one rival executive said. Sacramento wants to shore up the point guard position, but Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro‘s true long-term target is said to be Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson.
- In addition to the Lakers, Knicks, and Nets, the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Celtics are among the teams that have inquired about a deal with the Raptors for Lowry, league sources say. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri is said to have multiple deals he could do for Lowry that would involve receiving an expiring contract in return or slotting him into another team’s trade exception. For Toronto take on future salary, they’d probably demand a first-round draft choice.
- The reception to the proposed “wheel system” to determine NBA draft placement has been mixed. Meanwhile, it has sparked other ideas, including a straight lottery with all 14 non-playoff teams getting an equal shot at the No. 1 pick.
Warriors, Kings Eyeing Andre Miller
Warriors and Kings executives are mulling the idea of trading for suspended Nuggets guard Andre Miller, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Denver nonetheless remains uninterested in dealing the 37-year-old, and the team intends to smooth over the issues that led to Miller’s punishment, Wojnarowski adds.
The Warriors are in the market for a backup point guard and have been talking to the Raptors for weeks about acquiring Kyle Lowry, sources tell Wojnarowski. The Knicks have also been persistent in their pursuit of Lowry, but the Raptors have become less willing to trade him in the wake of their recent success. Toronto hasn’t abandoned the idea of trading Lowry, but the team isn’t simply looking to unload him to the highest bidder, as Wojnarowski writes.
The Kings see Miller as a veteran mentor who could help Isaiah Thomas, and GM Pete D’Alessandro, a former Nuggets executive, is a longstanding admirer of Miller, Wojnarowski points out.
Miller makes $5MM this season, but next year’s $4.625MM salary is only guaranteed for $2MM, so he’d be easier to unload for a team that sours on him, wants to clear cap space, or both. It’s clear that the 15th-year veteran is slowing down. This season he’s seeing the fewest minutes per game of his career, and his points and assists per minute are also new lows.
Pacific Notes: Suns, Bledsoe, Warriors
Earlier today, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reported that the Lakers approached the Nets earlier this month to see if Brooklyn had any interest in a deal centered around Pau Gasol and Brook Lopez. The exploratory talks, which happened before Lopez’s injury, didn’t go anywhere, as the Nets balked at the idea. With Lopez out for the year, that possibility is dead, but it does show that L.A. might be willing to take on contracts beyond 2015. Tonight’s look at the Pacific..
- Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld looks at five pending free agents due for raises this summer, including Suns restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe. Before the season, they likely could have locked him to to an extension with an average annual value of $9-11MM, but the way the guard has played in his first full season as a starter, it looks like he’s headed for a max or near-max contract offer.
- Suns GM Ryan McDonough watched Bledsoe for years, first in college as the kid who played alongside John Wall at Kentucky, then with the Clippers where he was Chris Paul‘s understudy, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “You just saw these flashes of what he could do,” McDonough said. “He doesn’t have a lot of holes in his game. There’s not a lot of things he can’t do, just with his strength, his athletic ability and his shooting.“
- The Warriors announced that they have recalled center Ognjen Kuzmic from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League. Kuzmic was assigned to Santa Cruz on December 28 and played 16 minutes in last night’s game against the Bakersfield Jam, registering two points, nine rebounds, and one blocked shot. To keep up with all of this year’s D-League assignments and recalls, check out Hoops Rumors’ running list.