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Pacific Notes: Patterson, Warriors, Clips, Bledsoe

September 5th, 2013 at 4:47pm CST by Luke Adams

On the heels of signings by the Lakers and Clippers, let's round up a few more Thursday items out of the Pacific Division….

Kings forward Patrick Patterson, who had previously been represented by Odell McCants, has signed with Excel Sports Management and agent Sam Goldfeder, according to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal (via Twitter).
Moke Hamilton of HoopsWorld examines what the addition of Andre Iguodala to the Warriors means for Harrison Barnes' role and development.
In revamping their bench this offseason, the Clippers appeared to prioritize offense over defense, as Jovan Buha of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes. Although L.A. has as much depth on paper as any Western contender, the defensive limitations of the team's bench may reduce its lineup flexibility, says Buha.
Former teammate Jamal Crawford believes Eric Bledsoe is headed for stardom, but the 2013/14 season will be the first chance for the Suns point guard to prove as much, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.

Clippers Sign Brandon Davies

September 5th, 2013 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 5TH: The Clippers have offically signed Davies, the team confirmed today in a press release. The amount of his guarantee still isn't known.

JULY 2ND: In addition to inviting Brandon Davies to play on their Summer League squad, the Clippers have also signed the undrafted free agent to a partially guaranteed one-year contract, reports Sean Deveney of the Sporting News (via Twitter).

Davies, a 21-year-old power forward, played four seasons at BYU, averaging 17.7 PPG and 8.0 RPG in 36 contests during his senior year. The BDA Sports client was ranked 63rd among this year's prospects by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com and 90th by ESPN.com's Chad Ford, so it's not shocking that he wasn't selected on draft night.

Assuming the deal is finalized, as Deveney's tweet suggests, it wouldn't violate the July moratorium. Minimum-salary contracts for one or two seasons can be signed during the moratorium, and that's almost certainly the sort of deal Davies agreed to, though it's not clear what sort of guarantee he received.

L.A. Rumors: Amundson, Kelly, Beasley, Nelson

September 3rd, 2013 at 10:43pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Clippers may have caught and passed the Lakers in terms of on-court quality over the past couple of seasons, but that change certainly hasn't been reflected on social media. The Lakers are the most significant presence in social media among the 30 NBA teams, while the Clippers rank last, according to an Emory University study. Of course, the worlds of Facebook and Twitter move swiftly, so the gap between L.A.'s teams might not endure another disappointing season for the Lakers juxtaposed with deep playoff run for the Clips.

As we wait to see how that develops, follow Hoops Rumors on Facebook and Twitter, and catch up with the latest from the City of Angels:

The Clippers and Lakers are still interested in Lou Amundson, who plans to strike a deal with a team within the week, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. Amundson met with both L.A. clubs recently, and he also worked out for them, Medina writes.
The Lakers doubt that Ryan Kelly, this year's 48th overall pick, will be healthy to start the season, so that would make Michael Beasley a wise pickup for the purple-and-gold, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler isn't so sure, pointing out that the Lakers would have to shell out tax money in addition to Beasley's salary if he joined the team (Twitter link).
Former UCLA Bruin Reeves Nelson spent training camp with the Lakers last year, but he's excited to be with the Sixers' D-League affiliate for now, agent Mark MacGillivray tells Jake Pavorsky of SB Nation.

Odds & Ends: Telep, Jefferson, Griffin

September 1st, 2013 at 10:12pm CST by Zachary Links

The Spurs have always been about innovation in the front office and they made an out-of-the-box hiring today by hiring well-respected prep recruiting analyst Dave Telep, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Telep, who recently left a job at a cable TV outlet, will work in a scouting coordinator role for the NBA draft under GM R.C. Buford.

It's difficult to be excited about the offseason in the Southeast Division with the most exciting move being the Bobcats signing Al Jefferson to a hefty contract, writes CBSSports.com's Royce Young. However, there is a power shift with the Heat at the top and the Wizards and Bobcats are trending up a bit while the Hawks will probably take a step back.
Whether or not the Clippers can truly contend in 2013/14 depends on star forward Blake Griffin, opines Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.
In his weekend mailbag, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star writes that Landry Fields, who signed a three-year, $18.75MM, deal with the Raptors last offseason, is slowly working to get his shot back while rehabbing his arm/elbow injury.

Western Notes: Lakers, Landry, Blazers, Frye

August 31st, 2013 at 9:16pm CST by Spencer Lund

The Clippers signed Antawn Jamison earlier this week, and Jamison conducted a radio interview with ESPN 710 in Los Angeles on Friday, transcribed and given context by ESPN Los Angeles scribe Ramona Shelburne this morning.

In the interview Jamison spoke about last season under the microscope with the star-studded Lakers, applauded the competitive drive of Kobe Bryant, and discussed his sometimes strained relationship with coach Mike D'Antoni, who removed Jamison from the rotation late in the year. Said Jamison of Bryant:

"I would never count Kobe Bryant out of anything. I've played with some special players. Gilbert Arenas when he was [in Washington D.C], at the top of his game, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal [in Cleveland]. I've played with a lot but never played with an individual player who had the type of mindset, the drive that he has. If [Bryant] says he's going to win a sixth ring, believe me, he's going to do everything possible to get that ring."

Jamison also said there was little communication or rapport between the players and D'Antoni after Mike Brown was fired five games into the season.

"Mike was pretty much put in a difficult situation. There was no training camp where he could get a feel for guys. There was a breakdown of communication when we first got there. And throughout the season it was kind of up and down."

Here's more from around the Western Conference, including a possible D-League addition to the Lakers next season…

The Los Angeles Times' Eric Pincus shares the offseason workout video (via Ryan Ellerbusch of Maximum Exposure) of Lakers summer league standout forward Marcus Landry.
Landry – younger brother of Carl Landry – averaged 15.2 PPG in 5 games this summer and in February was named to the Futures All-Star roster for the 2013 D-League All-Star Game.
Pincus adds that the Lakers are planning to bring 16-20 players to training camp despite having just 12 players under contract. They're expected to sign second round pick Ryan Kelly.
Sam Tongue of Blazers Edge wonders whether Blazers President Chris McGowan can enhance fan experience by upgrading their digital properties to "talk with the fans, rather than at them."
The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn tweets that Suns GM Ryan McDonough says they'll know whether Channing Frye will play in 2013/14 in the next few weeks, but he's "optimistic he'll be able to play."

International Notes: Johnson, Williams, Kennedy

August 29th, 2013 at 10:09am CST by Luke Adams

As we noted earlier this morning, one of the more intriguing big men still available in free agency came off the board today, when Ivan Johnson signed with China's Zhejiang Golden Bulls. Today's round of international updates includes more tidbits on Johnson's decision, along with notes on a couple other former NBA players. Let's dive in….

Johnson's one-year deal in China doesn't include an opt-out, but the CBA season ends before the NBA season does, so the ex-Hawk is hoping to catch on with an NBA team after his run with the Golden Bulls ends, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
The Bulls, Knicks, Clippers, and Pacers all had some interest in Johnson, according to Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. However, agent Jeremiah Haylett tells Zwerling that Zhejiang's offer was "so lucrative" that it persuaded his client to opt for China (Twitter links).
Enea Trapani of Sportando, citing Meidan Katsnelson, reports that Shelden Williams has turned down offers from Euroleague teams in search of a more lucrative deal. Williams, who played in France last season, may end up in China, according to Trapani.
Sportando also passes along a Gazzetta di Reggio report suggesting that Italian team Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia is targeting D.J. Kennedy, and keeping an eye on Cory Higgins and Lazar Hayward as possible alternatives. All three players have at least a little NBA experience, and may be more inclined to seek out NBA offers if those are available.

Bucks Seeking SF, Made Run At Caron Butler

August 28th, 2013 at 5:35pm CST by Chuck Myron

With this week's press conference to announce the Larry Sanders extension, it seemed like the Bucks, like most teams, were done with their significant offseason work. That may not be the case, as sources tell Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times that they're seeking to add an established small forward (Twitter link). Milwaukee attempted to trade for Caron Butler last month, Woelfel adds, but the former All-Star wound up going to the Suns in the same three-way trade that saw the Bucks cut ties with J.J. Redick.

Milwaukee is one of only two teams with significant cap room, with about $7.5MM worth of space, so they may be exploring free agents in addition to trades. There aren't any players of Butler's caliber left on the market, but other veteran options like Mickael Pietrus, Josh Childress and Stephen Jackson are among the unsigned small forwards with extensive NBA experience. Childress has reportedly drawn interest from multiple clubs of late, so perhaps the Bucks are in on him as well. Jackson seems least likely, since it would be tough to envision a reunion after he feuded with former coach Scott Skiles and found himself on the outs with the Spurs this season just as the playoffs were about to start.

Hedo Turkoglu could be another possibility, as he's acknowledged that it's unlikely he'll remain with the Magic for much longer. He's in talks with Orlando about a buyout of his expiring contract, which is worth $12MM but only 50% guaranteed. At least one team from overseas is already poised to make an offer if he becomes a free agent, but it looks like the Magic may try to see what they can get in a trade. The Bucks would have to send some salary out to make such a deal work, but with their glut of big men, they may be willing to make a deal, though that's just my speculation.

With dwindling free agent options and a quiet trade market, the Bucks may extend their search for a small forward into the season, or at least training camp, when other teams are more open to trades and some veterans — as Quentin Richardson was last year — might be cut loose.

Clippers Sign Antawn Jamison

August 28th, 2013 at 4:08pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY, 4:08pm: The Clippers have officially signed Jamison, the team announced today in a press release.

MONDAY, 4:44pm: The Clippers have signed Antawn Jamison to a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (Twitter links). It was reported that the Clippers were closing in on a deal with the veteran last night, though the Grizzlies and Bulls were also in the mix for his services.

Jamison, 37, spent last season with the Lakers, averaging 9.4 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 21.5 minutes per contest. It was a noticeable step back from the forward's previous career averages of 19.5 PPG and 7.9 RPG in 36.3 minutes per game.

The Clippers were said to be waiting on other options, namely Lamar Odom, before signing Jamison. In fact, they told Jamison as much nearly two weeks ago when he thought he was on the verge of a deal. It appears that Odom is going through some personal troubles right now, though earlier today, agent Jeff Schwartz refuted reports that his client has gone missing. One source told ESPN's Marc Stein that Odom is dealing with a drug problem and his friends are trying to get him help.

The UNC product is represented by the Wasserman Media Group, according to the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.

Clippers Notes: Jamison, Odom, Mullens

August 28th, 2013 at 2:59pm CST by Luke Adams

The Clippers reached an agreement to sign Antawn Jamison earlier this week, but most of you don't expect him to make a significant impact for the team this season. When Alex Lee of Hoops Rumors asked last night how many points per game Jamison would score in the 2013/14 season, over 62% of you predicted a single-digit average for the veteran forward.

Here's more on the Clippers:

Grantland's Kirk Goldberry examines what the signing of Jamison means for the Clippers.
After adding Jamison, the Clippers are no longer interested in re-signing Lamar Odom, a source tells Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. However, Medina adds that the team would "welcome Odom to training camp," so it may just be a matter of not wanting to guarantee him any money. Odom's alleged drug problems almost certainly played a part in that stance.
With 14 contracts on their books, the Clippers plan to fill the last roster spot in training camp, according to Medina. It's worth noting that once Jamison's deal becomes official, L.A. will have 13 players on guaranteed contracts. Maalik Wayns also has a non-guaranteed pact, and Brandon Davies reportedly agreed to a partially guaranteed deal earlier in the summer, though the team has yet to announce it. In any case, it seems that there could conceivably be two spots up for grabs in camp.
Byron Mullens knows that some fans and observers are wondering why the Clippers would sign him, but he tells Eric Patten of Clippers.com that he intends to prove his doubters wrong. Mullens inked a two-year, minimum-salary contract last month.

Poll: What Will Jamison Average As A Clipper?

August 27th, 2013 at 11:00pm CST by Alex Lee

As we detailed yesterday, Antawn Jamison decided to switch locker rooms at the Staples Center, going from the Lakers to the Clippers on a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum. Jamison is now 37 and saw his numbers drop drastically across the board last year as a part-time player for the Lakers. He averaged only 21.4 minutes-per-game in 2012/13, the lowest number of his career, but also shot 46.4 percent from the field, which was his highest shooting percentage since his 2008/09 campaign in Washington.

Our Chuck Myron compiled a list of reactions to the signing of Jamison and the consensus seems to be that, in light of the mystery that is Lamar Odom, Doc Rivers and the Clippers were able to land a consumate professional that will help do the little things it takes to win a championship. This was presumably the same reason the Lakers signed Jamison last year. The question is, were Jamison's career low averages (9.4 points-per-game) a reflection of a terrible situation with the Lakers or more simply a result of an aging player's diminishing skills? In short, what will his scoring average be this season with the Clippers?

What Will Antawn Jamison Average As A Clipper?

5-10 points-per-game; his decline from last year will worsen 48.69% (482 votes)

10-15 points-per-game; should still be a useful piece for Doc Rivers 34.24% (339 votes)

< 5 points-per-game; at this point, he is washed up 14.85% (147 votes)

15+ points-per-game; nothing went right for the Lakers last year 2.22% (22 votes)

Total Votes: 990