Grizzlies Expected To Shop Rudy Gay
TUESDAY, 6:47pm: Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio confirms that "talk around the league" indicates the Grizzlies are shopping Rudy Gay. According to Amico, Memphis seems to be seeking a lottery pick in return.
"He won't be an easy move," one team executive told Amico. "It's hard to imagine them getting back what they want for him, based on what I'm hearing."
Pacific Notes: Bynum, Clippers, Suns, Warriors
It's been an eventful 24 hours in the Pacific Division, with Clippers GM Neil Olshey bolting for Portland and the Lakers officially locking Andrew Bynum into the final year of his contract. Let's round up a few notes on the fallout of those decisions, along with the rest of the Tuesday morning updates out of the Pacific….
Amico On Gee, Cavs, Ilyasova, Humphries
So far this season, rumors surrounding restricted free agent Alonzo Gee have invariably involved the Suns, who are eyeing the Cavs guard and reportedly considering making him a four-year, $16MM offer. According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, however, Phoenix isn't the only team preparing to pursue Gee. The Wizards, Celtics, and Rockets will also have the 25-year-old "high on their wish list," says Amico, adding that the Cavs like Gee and hope to keep him. Here are a few more rumblings from around the league courtesy of Amico….
Southwest Notes: Grizzlies, Gay, Hornets, Mavs
The Spurs are two wins away from the NBA Finals. The Mavs are courting Deron Williams in an attempt to get back into championship contention. The Rockets want to make a splash by going after a star player this summer. The Grizzlies have been a playoff team for two years in a row. The Hornets have the No. 1 and the No. 10 picks in the draft. The Southwest Division could be the league's toughest next season, particularly if the Hornets can re-sign Eric Gordon. Here's what's happening around the Southwest now.
Odds & Ends: Warriors, Garnett, Roy, Hornets
With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut penciled into their 2012/13 starting lineup, the Warriors seem to be prioritizing a small forward to fill out their starting lineup this offseason. However, Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com argues that the Warriors have bigger needs to address. According to Steinmetz, Richard Jefferson and Dorell Wright are capable of handling the three spot, and Golden State should prioritize the acquisition of a point guard and a big body up front before pursuing a small forward.
Here are a few more Friday afternoon notes, including updates on a Celtics veteran, a former Blazer, and trade possibilities for the Sixers….
Draft Rumors: Bobcats, Cavs, Kings, Blazers
Following the Hornets' lottery win, ESPN.com's Chad Ford published his newest mock draft, which includes a handful of interesting scenarios, including Dion Waiters jumping to eighth overall and Austin Rivers slipping to 18th. With less than four weeks until draft day, Ford continues to talk to sources and visit workouts to get a better sense of how things will play out on June 28th. His latest draft blog (Insider link) explores potential options for the top 10 picks and is chock-full of interesting tidbits. Let's round up some of the highlights….
Warriors Rumors: Draft, Iguodala, Gay, Batum
The Warriors were one of a few teams to benefit from Wednesday night's draft lottery results, hanging onto their lottery pick for another year. According to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle, GM Bob Myers doesn't intend to use all four picks the Warriors hold, but views them as valuable trade assets. Myers also aims to land a starter with the seventh overall pick, pointing out that "I don't think anyone would accept the thought of drafting a backup" with a top-10 pick. Here are a few more of the morning's Warriors updates:
Teams Affected By The Lottery Results
The NBA's draft lottery played out nearly exactly as expected last night, given the odds. Only one team, the Hornets, moved up into the top three, with the top-ranked Bobcats, Wizards, and Cavaliers each sliding down a spot and the rest of the order holding to form. Despite the lack of drastic movement, the lottery results had major ramifications for a number of clubs besides the Hornets. Let's take a brief look at the teams whose fates were most affected by the ping pong balls….
Odds & Ends: Lottery, Raptors, Lin, Heat
Tomorrow night's draft lottery will have huge implications for the Warriors and Jazz, writes the Deseret News' Jody Genessy. Here are a few more items from around the NBA:
- Hoopsworld.com's Stephen Brotherston asks what position the Raptors should be targeting as they head into the draft.
- On June 13, a hearing to determine whether the Knicks can re-sign Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak without using any of their exceptions will be held, writes Newsday's Al Iannazzone. The union is seeking the restoration of both players' Bird rights, and a decision will be made before July 1. The union is expected to lose the hearing.
- The Oregonian's Joe Freeman writes about the Trail Blazers working out two centers today: North Carolina's Tyler Zeller and Illinois' Meyers Leonard.
- Sources have told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin that the Lakers are talking about making Los Angeles D-Fenders general manager Glenn Carraro their team's assistant general manager.
- ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan writes about how tomorrow night's draft lottery could have an especially large impact on the Nets and Mavericks.
- FoxSports.com's Chris Tomasson says LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are doing more than enough to fill in for Chris Bosh's absence.
- CBSSports.com's Ken Berger writes that at a time he's badly needed by his team, there's something wrong with Ray Allen.
Warriors, Jazz Trade Talks “All But Dead”
Talks between the Warriors and Jazz on a trade that would guarantee Golden State keeps its draft pick tomorrow are "all but dead," reports Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group. Assuming no deal is consummated, the Warriors will keep their pick if it lands in the top seven, or send it to Utah if it falls to eighth or lower.
The two sides had been discussing a trade that would allow Golden State to keep its pick regardless of tomorrow's lottery results. The Warriors were "working diligently" on some sort of agreement that may have included future draft considerations or cash, rather than players. However, according to Thompson's source, such a deal is "probably not going to happen" now, leaving the fate of the Warriors' pick to the ping pong balls tomorrow night.
The Warriors currently rank seventh in the lottery standings, which gives them a 3.6% chance at the first overall pick. More importantly, it gives the team about a 72.7% chance of securing its top-seven-protected first-rounder. If Golden State keeps its pick this year, it will still owe a first-rounder to the Jazz. The pick would become top-six-protected next season.