Free Agent Rumors: Iverson, Przybilla, Taylor
J.R. Smith's potential deal with the Knicks is the biggest free agent story of the day, but there are plenty of players out there hoping to land contracts of their own. Let's round up a few of the day's free agent updates….
- Allen Iverson is still drawing international interest, though there are conflicting reports on whether A.I. has received official contract offers. According to Sportando, Iverson has offers on the table from Puerto Rican and Venezuelan teams, but ESPN.com's Chris Broussard hears no formal offers have been extended so far. Broussard says Iverson would sign in the Caribbean, South America, or even the D-League, if it could lead to another shot at the NBA.
- Both Iverson reports agree that the next week will be crucial. According to Broussard's source, Iverson will "accept that his forced retirement is permanent" if he hasn't signed by the All-Star break.
- Some teams are backing off of Joel Przybilla, concerned that he's not fully healthy, tweets Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida. Przybilla was thought to be deciding between the Heat and Bulls, but perhaps those clubs are wary of extending formal offers.
- Jermaine Taylor, who appeared in 34 games for the Kings and Rockets last season, has signed with the D-League, according to Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside. Perhaps Taylor's time in the D-League will be short-lived though — Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld says (via Twitter) the Suns will work out Taylor today, while Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports tweets that the 25-year-old will work out for the Clippers tomorrow..
Clippers, Knicks Frontrunners for J.R. Smith
While J.R. Smith has been linked to practically half the teams in the NBA at this point, the Clippers and Knicks are the frontrunners for his services, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Magic GM Otis Smith tells Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel that his team isn't considering Smith.
Smith recently listed the Clippers, Knicks, Magic on his Twitter profile along with the Lakers, Bulls, and Pacers, leading to speculation that he could be choosing between those six teams. Currently, however, only the Clips, Knicks, and Lakers remain mentioned on his page.
The Clippers have been actively recruiting Smith, with Chris Paul confident about the team's chances and Vinny Del Negro saying a phone call with Smith yesterday went "very, very well." The Knicks, however, could offer Smith more money this season, along with a player option for next year. Both L.A. teams could only guarantee Smith the pro-rated veteran's minimum for the remainder of the season. According to Shelburne, the security of having a 2012/13 option with the Knicks could factor into Smith's decision.
Having just returned from his season in China, Smith still requires a FIBA letter of clearance before he's free to sign with an NBA team.
J.R. Smith Rumors: Wednesday
9:56 p.m.: Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports (via Twitter) that Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro has reached out to Smith.
1:00 p.m.: J.R. Smith's Chinese team played its final game today, which means Smith's should be returning to America any time now. While he still needs a letter of clearance from FIBA before he can become an unrestricted free agent and sign with an NBA team, Smith figures to make his NBA debut shortly after the All-Star break at the latest. Yesterday, Chris Paul expressed confidence in the Clippers' chances of signing Smith, while Lakers coach Mike Brown confirmed he and Smith had talked. Here's the latest on the CBA's scoring champ:
- The Bulls aren't in the mix for Smith, according to Larry Coon of HoopsWorld and ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- It's anyone's guess how much we should trust Smith's Twitter feed, but for what it's worth, he tweeted yesterday that he hasn't been in contact with the Timberwolves at all.
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel doesn't expect the Magic to sign Smith (Twitter link).
Pacific Notes: Smith, Brown, Arenas, Howard
Chris Paul is confident about the Clippers' chances of landing J.R. Smith when the former Nugget returns from China, but Smith's Twitter profile suggests a number of teams are in play, including one he hasn't been linked to yet. Smith's Twitter bio simple reads: "NYK? LAL? LAC? CHI? ORL? iNDI?" While there's no guarantee the 26-year-old is deciding between just those six teams, the Magic are an interesting inclusion, given the uncertainty surrounding Dwight Howard. Hoops Rumors readers voted the Clippers as the frontrunner for Smith yesterday.
Here are a few more items out of the Pacific Division:
- Lakers coach Mike Brown confirmed that he spoke with free agent guard J.R. Smith today over the phone, tweets J. Michael Falgoust of USA Today.
- Shannon Brown signed a one-year deal with the Suns prior to the season because he thought he'd get a chance to play and increase his value, but it hasn't been working out that way, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.
- In a series of tweets, Ramona Sherburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com explains why she thinks the Lakers should sign Gilbert Arenas, assuming he's healthy.
- Looking at a few realistic trade destinations for Dwight Howard, ESPN.com's John Hollinger (Insider link) evaluated how Howard's potential teammates would complement the star center. Hollinger determined that the Clippers' Chris Paul would be the best partner for Howard, while the Lakers' Andrew Bynum would be the worst.
Paul: Clips’ Chances Of Signing Smith “Very High”
The Clippers may not be able to offer J.R. Smith as much money as most NBA clubs can, but Chris Paul likes his team's chances anyway. Paul told ESPN.com's Marc Stein he thinks the Clips' chances of landing Smith are "very high."
Smith, 26, is set to return from China this week, with Paul one of the NBA players said to be recruiting him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Joining the Clippers would reunite Smith with three former teammates, in Paul, Kenyon Martin, and the injured Chauncey Billups. However, the Clips aren't the only club interested.
Stein reported on Friday that the Knicks were still thought to be the frontrunner for Smith, though perhaps that's changed over the last few days. While Stein adds the Timberwolves and Pacers to the list of interested clubs, Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star says Indiana's early interest has died down (Twitter link).
Yesterday, Hoops Rumors readers narrowly picked the Clippers (29%) as the favorite to sign Smith over the Knicks (26%).
Odds & Ends: Hornets, Clippers, Knicks, Magic
- Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles reports the Los Angeles Clippers are pursuing J.R. Smith. Their sales pitch includes Chauncey Billups vacated starting slot, a chance to showcase his game on a contending team, and his familiarity with Chris Paul–and their shared agent, Leon Rose.
- Also pursuing Smith, according to the same report, is Carmelo Anthony. The New York Knicks have slightly more money to offer with the prorated $2.5MM mini-mid-level exception, and Leon Rose likewise represents Anthony.
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel wonders if Jason Richardson can be a reliable go-to guy after a breakout game against the Milwaukee Bucks. If so, it would relieve a lot of the pressure for an immediate roster overhaul for general manager Otis Smith and the Orlando Magic.
- Naturally after watching Richardson's performance over the Bucks comes reports from Schmitz that a disgruntled Dwight Howard would like to see the ball more in the fourth quarter.
Pacific Notes: Fisher, Bryant, Martin
The Lakers have been seeking a point guard in the trade market this season, as 37-year-old Derek Fisher, whose 5.2 PPG is his lowest since his rookie season, appears to be in decline. Fisher's role as head of the players union during the lockout has drained him, says Patrick Ewing, who went through the same experience in 1999, as Mitch Lawrence examines for the New York Daily News.
Here are a few more notes from the Pacific Division:
- The Kamenetzky brothers of ESPNLosAngeles.com wonder whether Kobe Bryant, who recently told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith he doesn't want to play at a diminished capacity, will retire when his contract ends in 2014.
- Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com notes, in the fifth item of this story, how recent free-agency signee Kenyon Martin is already getting comfortable with the Clippers.
Clippers Looking To Replace The Injured Billups
Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld.com reports the Los Angeles Clippers are looking to replaced injured guard Chauncey Billups, who is out for the season with a torn achilles tendon.
"Billups, more so than point guard Chris Paul, has that crucial championship experience that the Clippers will need as they head into what could be an unprecedented postseason run. The Clippers will be able to replace Chauncey’s production, to an extent, throughout the regular season but having an NBA Finals MVP on the floor in the closing moments of vital playoff games?
That’s tough to overcome."
Combo guard Mo Williams and Randy Foye should be able to replace the 15 points and four assists Billups was contributing per night. And while Billups' veteran leadership will be missed on the court, Chris Paul is an old hand at leading teams through tough situations.
Billups' injury doe little to change the Clippers priorities. With the acquisition of Kenyon Martin to shore up the frontcourt, the Clippers most glaring need was athletic size on the wings where veterans Caron Butler and Ryan Gomes are the onlyl swingmen with ideal size, if not athleticism.
J.R. Smith should return from China soon, and remains an intriguing option as firepower off the bench, though he may command more than the minimum contract the Clippers can offer.
The Clippers are also armed with a $3.93MM and $2.85MM trade exception remaining from the Chris Paul trade, though their lack of a first round pick in this draft might leave options limited. With the team built around Paul and Blake Griffin, however, this depth is more luxury than necessity this first season.
Mo Williams Talks Role, Contract, Cavs Trade
Mo Williams returned to Cleveland last night, playing his first game at Quicken Loans Arena since being traded from the Cavaliers to the Clippers nearly a year ago. Before the game, Williams spoke to reporters about a number of topics, including the trade that sent him to Los Angeles.
On his role with the Clippers (via Bob Finnan of the News-Herald):
"I haven't come off the bench for a long time. Once I understood the role, it's starting to flow. You have to play a role on every team. This is what they've asked me to do. Whether I like it or not, I have to perform my duties."
On the trade that sent him to the Clippers with Jamario Moon for Baron Davis and the draft pick that became Kyrie Irving (via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal):
"I thought [the Cavs] handled everything first class, even though I was traded. It was a decision that they made as an organization. I would say it worked out for them."
On his current contract situation (via T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times):
"I don't know where I stand…. If you have a girlfriend and she tells you she loves you every day, obviously you know she loves you…. The way [a team] tells you they love you every day is by signing you to a contract extension."
I think Simers' portrayal of Williams as a selfish player out for another payday is unfair. Williams' comments suggest to me that he won't feel like he's part of the Clippers' long-term plans (which he may not be) as long as the team seems content to let his contract expire. Neil Olshey has said he's not shopping Williams, but the Clips GM, at least before Chauncey Billups' season-ending injury, seemed open to a trade if he received the right offer.
Pacific Notes: Lakers, Warriors, Kings, Martin
Each of the three Pacific Division teams in action last night went down to the wire, with no game decided by more than three points. The Suns edged the Bucks, while the Kings and Warriors fell to the Timberwolves and Thunder, respectively. The Clippers are the only Pacific team in action tonight, but we've got a few links to round up….
- Kobe Bryant told 710 ESPN in L.A. that he expects the Lakers' brass to make a move in the coming weeks: "They'll tweak something. I don't know what. But I'm sure they'll do something" (ESPNLosAngeles link).
- Sam Amick has a pair of new Warriors-heavy pieces up at SI.com, including a Q&A with Jerry West. Both are must-reads for Warriors fans, as members of the front office discuss the team's future and the challenges they've faced acquiring talent.
- The city of Sacramento is thought to be seeking approximately $80MM from the Kings and the NBA for its new arena, reports James Ham of Cowbell Kingdom.
- Recently-signed forward Kenyon Martin will make his Clippers debut, according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).
- D-League star Blake Ahearn would be a good fit for the Clippers, opines Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside (on Twitter). Ahearn is averaging 24.1 PPG and 5.6 APG at Reno this season.