Pacific Rumors: Lakers, Odom, Clippers, Green
Two days after Kobe Bryant told Pau Gasol to put on his "big boy pants," Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com calls Bryant's latest comments his strongest message of support to date for Gasol, who's struggling amid trade rumors and tendinitis in both knees. "I want him to dig in and be determined, not discouraged," Bryant said. "We should go to him more on the post because he can dominate from there as he has to the tune of two rings. I'm sure we will adjust and figure out a balance when he comes back healthy." Bryant also said he loves Pau "like a brother," but Lakers fans aren't feeling the love from their team so far. While we wait to see if and when the Lakers get it going, here's what the Pacific Division teams on top of them in standings are up to.
- Lamar Odom has become a locker room leader for the Clippers, handing out books to other players a la Phil Jackson, but his most significant impact must come on the court, where he's showing signs of returning to form, argues Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
- Mavs center Chris Kaman, who spent eight seasons with the Clippers before they sent him to the Hornets in the Chris Paul deal, believes Clips owner Donald Sterling is growing more serious about winning as he gets older, as Jeff Caplan of NBA.com documents. "You’ve seen since they picked (Paul) up all the guys wanting to be there," Kaman said. "Before he was there no one wanted to be there. It was like people hated themselves for being there."
- Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group details how Draymond Green's toughness, intelligence and obsession with winning have contributed to the Warriors' strong 10-7 start.
Warriors Recall Jeremy Tyler
The Warriors announced that they have recalled forward/center Jeremy Tyler from the D-League’s Santa Cruz Warriors. Tyler will return to Oakland in time for tonight’s home game versus the Magic.
Tyler had a one-day assignment with Golden State’s D-League affiliate and registered five points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 29 minutes of the team’s 95-79 victory at Reno yesterday afternoon. The 21-year-old averaged 4.9 PPG with 3.3 RPG in 13.5 minutes per contest last season. This year, Tyler has seen just ten minutes of play across five games.
Pacific Notes: Gasol, Howard, Curry
The latest news and notes around the Pacific Division on Sunday evening:
- Eddie Johnson of HoopsHype writes that the Lakers are beginning to accept the reality that Pau Gasol is not a long-term fit for Mike D'Antoni's system. However, Johnson notes that Gasol's age and contract make it difficult to move him.
- As pleased as Dwight Howard seems to be as a member of the Lakers, he refuses to talk about whether he'll remain in L.A. when his contract is up next summer, notes Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
- Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News writes that a newly healthy Stephen Curry is seeing a spike in his production this season.
D-League Moves: De Colo, Miller, Tyler
In addition to the Celtics sending down Kris Joseph, three other teams announced D-League moves in quick succession, and we'll detail them here.
- The Spurs assigned Nando De Colo to the Austin Toros. The rookie has appeared in 13 games for San Antonio, averaging 2.5 points on just 30% shooting in 10.4 minutes per game. The 25-year-old Frenchman logged his first NBA start Thursday as the Spurs rested their regulars against the Heat.
- The Nuggets recalled Quincy Miller from the Iowa Energy after sending him down November 13th. The 6'10" Baylor product, the 38th overall pick in this year's draft, has yet to play in a game for the Nuggets this season, but posted 14.0 PPG and 10.7 RPG in 29.3 MPG in three contests for Iowa.
- The Warriors assigned Jeremy Tyler to the Santa Cruz Warriors in a move first reported by Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group (Twitter link). Tyler played in 42 games, including 23 starts, as a rookie last season, but has seen just 10 minutes of burn in five games for the big club this year.
- To keep up with all the D-League assignments and recalls throughout the year, bookmark our updated list.
Warriors Recall Kent Bazemore
A fine performance in his D-League debut was apparently enough to earn Kent Bazemore a return trip to the big club, as the Warriors have recalled the rookie from their D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, according to an announcement from the team. Golden State sent Bazemore down yesterday in time for Santa Cruz's game against Reno, and he put up 27 points, nine rebounds and five steals in 33 minutes of action.
The Warriors seem to have plans for the 6'5" swingman who went undrafted out of Old Dominion this June, since they're reportedly unwilling to cut him to bring back former Warrior Dominic McGuire, whom the Raptors let go earlier this week. Bazemore is on a minimum-salary contract that's partially guaranteed for $25K.
Still, this might not be Bazemore's final trip to Santa Cruz this season. We heard this week that the Warriors may shuttle him and Jeremy Tyler back and forth between the D-League and the NBA, given the proximity of Santa Cruz to Oakland. The Warriors bought the former Dakota Wizards last year and moved them to California.
Warriors Assign Kent Bazemore To D-League
The Warriors have officially assigned rookie Kent Bazmore to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group first reported that the team would send Bazemore to the Santa Cruz Warriors today.
Bazemore, an undrafted rookie out of Old Dominion, was invited to Warriors camp in the fall and was a somewhat unexpected addition to the regular season roster. Although he's appeared in six games for Golden State, Bazemore hasn't seen much action, failing to score his first NBA points in about 10 total minutes of play.
Bazemore is the first Warriors player to be assigned to the team's single-affiliate D-League squad in Santa Cruz.
Warriors Rumors: McGuire, Bazemore, Bogut
Of the two games on the NBA's schedule last night, the Spurs/Heat contest drew most of the headlines for Gregg Popovich's decision to send his stars home. But the evening's late contest in Golden State was arguably the more thrilling game of the two. Andre Iguodala's potential game-winning buzzer-beater left his hand a split second too late, allowing the Warriors to hang on for a one-point victory, 106-105. As the team comes off a big win against the Nuggets, here are a few Friday morning Warriors updates:
- With ex-Warrior Dominic McGuire being released by the Raptors, Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group (Sulia link) says not to bank on Golden State having interest in McGuire. Sources tell Thompson that the Warriors don't want to waive Kent Bazemore, the player most likely to be cut if the team adds another player.
- Bazemore will, however, be leaving the NBA team for now, as Thompson tweets that the rookie will be assigned to the D-League's Santa Cruz Warriors today.
- The Warriors have yet to apply for a disabled player exception following Brandon Rush's season-ending injury, according to Thompson (via Twitter). Such an exception would allow the team to add a player for this season for a salary up to $2MM. With the Warriors already over the tax line, approaching a hard cap, and still holding their $1.96MM bi-annual exception, perhaps the club figures there's no point in asking for an exception that won't be used.
- Appearing on Chronicle Live, Warriors GM Bob Myers apologized for deceiving fans in regard to Andrew Bogut's injury situation, as Thompson transcribes. The team did not reveal that Bogut had undergone microfracture surgery earlier this year, news that surfaced this week. "If there was blame to be laid on how this was communicated," Myers said. "That blame ultimately rides with me as the general manager of this organization."
Pacific Notes: Kings, Virginia Beach, Billups
The latest update on Virginia Beach's arena proposal comes from Dale Kasler, Tony Bizjak, and Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee. According to the Bee report, the arena proposal would include commitments of $150MM from the state of Virginia, $195MM from the city of Virginia Beach, and just $35MM from Comcast-Spectator. Part of that cost would be put toward relocating a professional sports team, presumably the Sacramento Kings, to Virginia Beach.
Given that the proposal calls for 90% public funding, it's already drawing opposition from some public officials, according to the Bee report — city councilman Bill DeSteph suggested that Virginia Beach "can't afford" to put $195MM into the project.
As we wait to see if Virginia Beach's arena plan continues to move forward, here are a few more notes from around the Pacific Division:
- Rob McAllister of Cowbell Kingdom is skeptical that Virginia Beach is really a viable relocation option for the Kings, contending that the Maloofs are playing the city in order to boost the value of the franchise.
- Chauncey Billups' return to the Clippers lineup was timely, writes Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game, who says Billups helped quell a locker-room revolt last season and could be instrumental in convincing Chris Paul to remain long-term with the Clips.
- Young Warriors players like Jeremy Tyler and Kent Bazemore could be shuttled back and forth between the NBA and the D-League this season, given the proximity of the team's Santa Cruz affiliate, writes Carl Steward of the Oakland Tribune.
- Making his case for why the Lakers should trade Pau Gasol, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News writes that it's "becoming obvious that the rumor mill may know something the Lakers and Gasol don’t seem to know — he would be better off elsewhere."
Warriors Rumors: Bogut, Tyler, Bazemore, Lee
Andrew Bogut said today that he doesn't think he'll miss the season, but indicated that it could be awhile before he returns, as Carl Steward of the Bay Area News Group reports. "The season's five to six months before the playoffs, which we have a great chance of making," Bogut said. "I don't think it's going to be five to six months. I hope it won't be. It would be a massive setback if it was. I'm not going to say a month or two months or three months, but I definitely think I'll be back." His comments came in a joint press conference held by Bogut and the Warriors to confirm that the two sides are on the same page as he recovers from left ankle surgery. There's more from that press conference and other Warriors news this evening, and we'll round it up here.
- Bogut explained that he's exhausting all options as he attempts to return, tweets Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I’ve almost resorted to Voodoo doctors," Bogut said. "I’ve seen everyone under the hat to try and get this ankle right."
- We heard earlier this morning that the microfracture aspect of Bogut's surgery in April wasn't a major part of the procedure, but Steward notes that Bogut said today that the entire procedure significantly lengthened the recovery time for the fractured ankle, which he first hurt in January. Without the surgery, Bogut said he might have been ready in July.
- Even if rookie Festus Ezeli emerges as a force inside, the Warriors aren't going to trade Bogut, tweets fellow Bay Area News Group scribe Marcus Thompson II.
- Coach Mark Jackson mentioned Jeremy Tyler and Kent Bazemore by name when he spoke about the team's desire to shuttle young players back and forth between the team's D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, as Steward also noted.
- David Lee applauds the Warriors front office for acquiring Bogut last season as well as the others the team picked up during the summer, and thinks Golden State's turnover problems this season will improve as everyone on the team becomes more familiar with each other, as he tells HoopsWorld's Bill Ingram.
Pacific Notes: Bogut, Gasol, Kings, Virginia Beach
Microfracture surgery carries a worrisome stigma for NBA players, with guys like Penny Hardaway, Chris Webber, and Greg Oden having undergone the procedure on their knees in the past. However, in revealing that Andrew Bogut underwent microfracture surgery on his ankle this year, Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times cautions that Bogut's situation is different.
According to Thompson, the microfracture aspect wasn't the major part of Bogut's surgery, and simply addressed a "minor" cartilage issue. The original timetable for Bogut's return took into account the procedure, and while the Warriors had hoped that timetable had accelerated, the big man's latest setback suggests he won't be back at full strength until 2013.
Here are a few more notes from around the Pacific Division:
- Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni scoffed at speculation that Pau Gasol isn't a fit for his system, as Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News details. "I don't see how a player as smart as he is, as talented as he is and efficient as he is, doesn't fit in anybody's schemes," D'Antoni said. "I got to reevaluate myself if I can't play with Pau Gasol. Come on. He's won two championships."
- Tyreke Evans is off to a good start in a new role for the Kings, and coach Keith Smart doesn't believe the strides Evans has made are the result of his playing for a contract. Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee has the details.
- According to WAVY-TV 10 sports director Bruce Rader, plans for a new arena in Virginia Beach have taken another step forward. Rader reports that Virginia Beach mayor Will Sessoms will ask city council for permission to request $150MM from the state of Virginia to help with construction costs and relocation costs for a professional sports team, which Rader assumes will be the Sacramento Kings.
- Tom Ziller of Sactown Royalty provides his own take on the Virginia Beach news, noting that even if all of Rader's details are accurate, there are still plenty of roadblocks the project must overcome.