Pau Gasol, Henry Done For Season?
The Lakers are leaning toward sitting Pau Gasol for the rest of the season, reports Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles times, who adds that Xavier Henry is not expected to return to the lineup either. The news may not seem too significant considering that there are only seven games left on the team’s schedule, but it’s worth noting that both Gasol and Henry are headed for unrestricted free agency this summer.
Gasol is reportedly dealing with a severe recurrence of vertigo, which has caused him to miss five of L.A.’s last six contests. Henry has dealt with knee and wrist injuries this season, and – as we noted earlier today – had recently been playing through pain against medical advice in order to prove his worth. Although Gasol’s desire to stay in Los Angeles remains a question mark, he recently said that he wouldn’t rule out returning to the Lakers if the circumstances are appropriate. On the other hand, Henry has made it publicly clear that he’d like to re-sign with the team this summer.
The 33-year-old Gasol is finishing up the final year of a three-year contract extension that he signed in 2009; his next deal would presumably be much less than the $19.3MM he made this year. Henry – finishing up his one-year deal for the NBA’s minimum salary – has been a bright spot for the Lakers this year, averaging career highs in points (10.0) and minutes (21.1). However, it’ll be interesting to see just how much he’ll be able to market himself if he undergoes wrist surgery this summer as expected.
Western Notes: Young, Llull, Sampson, Kings
Following last night’s game against Sacramento, Lakers guard Nick Young hinted that he plans to opt out this summer and enter free agency (Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com reports). The 6’7 swingman referred to his popular epithet when responding to a question about whether or not he’s already made up his mind: “A little bit. It’s a mystery, though. I’ve got to keep y’all on your toes. That’s what Swaggy P does.”
Last week, we noted that Young would likely test the waters in July and remains interested in re-signing with the Lakers. Though he does hold a 2014/15 player option worth roughly $1.2MM, the L.A. native believes it’s time for a raise: “Most definitely. I deserve much more than that.”
Here’s what else we’ve gathered out West this evening:
- The Rockets have the draft rights to Spanish league guard Sergio Llull, but he’s not among the players the team appears to be considering, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Llull, 26, is considered an NBA-level talent, but his contract with Real Madrid would require a hefty in-season buyout, Stein notes (Twitter links).
- The abruptness of Kelvin Sampson’s departure from the Rockets wasn’t entirely by choice, as league rules mandate that he couldn’t remain with the team after having accepted the head coaching job at the University of Houston, tweets Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston.
- Plans for a new Kings arena in Sacramento took another step forward today as the city won an appeals court ruling allowing it to retain possession of a building that sits on the site where the arena is to be built, as Dale Kasler of The Sacramento Bee details.
- Nearly one year removed from a failed attempt to purchase and relocate the Kings franchise, Chris Hansen tells Percy Allen of the Seattle Times: “It’s inevitable Seattle will have a basketball team. It’s just a matter of when…The next time an opportunity comes our way, we’re going to be in a lot better position. We’re not going to have to prove to the NBA that we’re likely to get an arena built. We’ll have a fully-baked, signed off on deal.”
- As far as an arena proposal goes, Hansen mentions the EIS (Environmental State Impact) process as one hurdle that needs to be cleared; However, he says that the process is going well and expects it to be settled by this summer at the earliest.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Lakers Notes: Henry, Meeks, Young
The defeat the Lakers suffered to the Kings on Wednesday was critical for their draft lottery position, giving them their 50th loss, two more than the Kings and Pistons, the teams directly beneath them in our Reverse Standings. The Lakers are right below the Celtics and Jazz, who have 52 losses apiece, but it seems like L.A. has a strong chance of ending up anywhere from fourth through eighth at season’s end. It’s not the usual late-season intrigue for the purple-and-gold, but the team’s final seven games will have meaning nonetheless. Here’s the latest on what lies ahead:
- Xavier Henry says he would love to re-sign with the Lakers this summer, and he’s playing through a painful wrist injury against doctor’s advice to prove his worth, as Shams Charania of RealGM details.
- Jodie Meeks, another soon-to-be free agent, reiterates his intention to stay with the Lakers, too, but he also acknowledges there will be more to his decision than that, observes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “Definitely, I want to stay, but it’s a business,” Meeks said. “So, both sides of the party, it will be interesting to see what happens. … I’ll just kind of play the waiting game.”
- Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is a fan of Nick Young‘s ebullient personality, and while there appears to be mutual interest in him returning next season, there’s no certainty he’ll be back, writes Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. Young seems likely to decline his nearly $1.228MM player option.
Lakers Leaning Toward Keeping Mike D’Antoni
Mike D’Antoni has come under fire from Kobe Bryant and other Lakers players this season, and while the team hasn’t decided whether to keep the coach for next season, they’re leaning toward retaining him, according to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding. The Lakers will apparently make their final decision quickly after the regular season, which ends two weeks from tonight.
Bryant was vague in his assessment of D’Antoni in a recent radio interview, saying that he didn’t know whether the coach deserved to return but adding that D’Antoni hasn’t gotten “a fair shake” because of all the injuries the club has dealt with during his tenure. An earlier report indicated that Bryant had “no interest” in playing for the coach any longer. Jordan Hill and Pau Gasol, both free agents at season’s end, also reportedly would like to see D’Antoni go, and Hill said Tuesday that he won’t return unless his role changes. Chris Kaman, another of the many soon-to-be free agents on the Lakers, has been critical of his limited playing time on multiple occasions, but a chat with D’Antoni’s agent Tuesday prompted the center to offer defense of the coach Tuesday, as Ding passes along.
D’Antoni and his alma mater, Marshall University, are said to have mutual interest, but it would seem highly unlikely that D’Antoni would walk away from the final guaranteed year of his contract with the Lakers if they decide to bring him back. It’s nonetheless been a trying time in L.A. for the one-time darling of the coaching profession, whose vaunted small-ball attack has failed to deliver wins and bred resentment from players who don’t fit with the scheme.
The Lakers hired D’Antoni instead of popular former coach Phil Jackson early last season, drawing the ire of their fans, and the team failed to recover from a slow start that cost Mike Brown his job after only five games in 2012/13. The Spurs swept the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs last season, and the Lakers tumbled to new lows this year, as they sit at 25-49, in danger of setting a franchise record for losses. D’Antoni is 65-81 as coach of the team.
Pacific Rumors: Warriors, Hill, Tucker, Nash
Jermaine O’Neal has hinted that he’ll retire after the season, but the 35-year-old scored 20 points Tuesday in an overtime win, and he says the rumors surrounding coach Mark Jackson and the team have been a galvanizing force in the Warriors locker room. Jeff Caplan of NBA.com has more from the 18th-year veteran, and we have the latest from around the Pacific Division:
- Jordan Hill won’t rule out a return to the Lakers in free agency this summer, but not if it means playing the same limited role he’s seen this season, notes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. Hill would reportedly like the team to replace Mike D’Antoni, but Tuesday the power forward offered praise and respect for the Lakers coach. Still, if D’Antoni is back with the team next year, Hill certainly won’t be, Medina writes.
- P.J. Tucker, a restricted free agent this summer, calls the months ahead “the most important time in my career,” but he feels indebted to the Suns, and the Arete Sports Agency client fully intends on re-signing with them, observes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. “Of course, why would I not?” Tucker said. “They brought me here. I think I exceeded their expectations and mine with what has transpired. Of course, I want to retire a Sun.”
- The Lakers plan to keep Steve Nash and his full $9.701MM salary for next season, and his 10-assist effort Tuesday against the Blazers shows that he’s still capable of being more than just a sunk cost for the team, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
And-Ones: Nash, Vasquez, Bucks
John Zitzler of Basketball Insiders looks at the steps the Bucks should take in the offseason to get their rebuilding process heading in the proper direction. He believes the team needs to select the best player available in the draft, regardless of position, and shape the rest of the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Zitzler also opines that the Bucks need to retain and develop some of their other young players, such as John Henson, Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton, and Nate Wolters.
More from around the league:
- Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune chronicles the career path of Greivis Vasquez, his success with the Pelicans, and where he may end up next season.
- It is unknown if Steve Nash will be physically able to play next season, or if the Lakers will keep him on their roster. Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic looks at the toll the injuries have taken, and Nash’s likelihood of returning to Los Angeles in 2014/15.
- The Thunder don’t figure to have a top-20 selection in this year’s draft, so they will have to try and find value when they pick. The staff at NewsOK.com look at some of the prospects that might be available when the team selects, as well as opine on what the Thunder’s needs might be.
- The debate over “tanking” has gone on all season and will certainly continue all the way through the draft. Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders thinks the whole issue is overblown, and explains why tanking isn’t ruining the league.
Pacific Notes: Rivers, Warriors, D’Antoni
SB Nation’s Paul Flannery checks in with Doc Rivers one year into his shift from the hallowed Celtics to the traditionally woebegone Clippers, and while the coach has himself undergone a change in cultures, he’s busy trying to implement a new attitude in Clipperland.
“I took the gamble, that’s what I always tell people,” Rivers said. “It was me taking this gamble. It’s worth it. If we get it right, it will be worth it. If we get it wrong, it will be a great attempt. It gives me a lot of life and it’s a task. If you know, there’s a lot, not just the basketball part that we’re trying to change here. It’s more the mindset.”
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Warriors ownership and management haven’t publicly dismissed rumors surrounding Mark Jackson because they believe his actions fomented the media storm, writes Sam Amick of USA Today. Amick seconds the frequent suggestion that the team’s postseason performance will determine the coach’s fate.
- Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report explains the personality conflict between Jackson and Brian Scalabrine, the former assistant coach whom the Warriors reassigned to a gig with their D-League affiliate at Jackson’s behest (video link).
- Mike D’Antoni has no shortage of affection for Marshall University, his alma mater, writes Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, who wouldn’t be surprised if D’Antoni winds up coaching the school’s basketball team next year. D’Antoni and Marshall reportedly have mutual interest.
Pacific Rumors: Thomas, Jackson, Marshall
There will be something on the line for every team in the Pacific Division over the final two weeks or so remaining in the regular season. The Clippers have an outside chance at catching the Thunder for the second seed in the Western Conference, while the Warriors and Suns are fighting for one of the final playoff spots and the Kings and Lakers are jockeying for draft lottery position. Plenty of intrigue will carry over into the offseason, as we detail:
- Isaiah Thomas let his affection for the Lakers be known recently, but the soon-to-be restricted free agent tells Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee that he’d prefer to remain with the Kings. The Kings would like to keep him, since they’ve concluded that Thomas, DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay can form the core of a quality team, Jones writes. “I definitely want to be around when it does turn around,” Thomas said. “I was drafted here. I’ve been welcomed with open arms by the Sacramento community. It just feels like a second home. I can’t control it, though. At the same time, I’m going to do whatever’s possible to be around. That’s all I can do.”
- Regardless of what happens between Mark Jackson and the Warriors, the former Knicks point guard won’t have the chance to return to New York, as Knicks team president Phil Jackson wouldn’t hire him, tweets Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group. Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob will be the sole decision-maker regarding the coach’s future with Golden State, Kawakami adds (Twitter link).
- Kendall Marshall still holds a grudge against the Suns for trading him just one season after they took him 13th overall in 2012, observes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. The Lakers plan to retain Marshall on his non-guaranteed contract next season, as we noted earlier.
Lakers Plan To Keep Nash, Marshall
The Lakers have plenty of time before they’ll be under pressure to make a decision about retaining Steve Nash and Kendall Marshall for next season, but for now the team plans on keeping both point guards, reports Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. There’s been lots of speculation, some of it coming from Nash himself, that the Lakers would waive the 40-year-old this summer and use the stretch provision, but the Lakers instead envision taking the full $9.701MM cap hit next season for his 2014/15 salary. Marshall’s minimum salary contract is non-guaranteed for next season.
The deadline for the Lakers to use the stretch provision on Nash is August 31st, so if they wind up with a chance to sign a desirable free agent and need extra cap space to accommodate such a deal, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them reverse course with Nash. Still, it appears that for now, Nash is on track to continue his career with the Lakers. He’s admitted he’s sticking around in part because he doesn’t want to forfeit his salary, though he would still earn the money even if he walked away. Nash’s salary is guaranteed and he’s already played in his 10th game this season, washing away the chance of a medical retirement.
It’s no surprise that the team wants to keep Marshall, who’s blossomed since the team signed him in December. The 13th overall pick in the 2012 draft spent most of the first two months of this season out of the NBA, but he’s since averaged 8.9 assists and just 2.8 turnovers in 29.4 minutes per game for the Lakers.
Nash and Marshall are two of just five Lakers on the roster with contracts that run through next season. Coach Mike D’Antoni is also under contract for 2014/15, but there’s less certainty surrounding the team’s plans with him. The Lakers nonetheless won’t let his fate linger, as they’ll decide soon after the end of the regular season whether to retain him, Bresnahan writes.
Western Notes: Stotts, Gasol, O’Neal
Terry Stotts is on the last year of his contract, and management hasn’t said whether he’ll be back for a third season on the Blazers’ bench, writes Mitch Lawrence of The New York Daily News. Stotts’ staff is not feeling very good about their chances of returning after sliding down to fifth place in the West and in danger of finishing even lower, reports Lawrence. Since starting the season atop the West by winning 33 of their 44 games, the Blazers have been sub-.500, losing 16 of their last 29 games entering the weekend. In six seasons as a head coach with the Hawks, Bucks, and Blazers, Stotts has a record of 195-244.
More from the west:
- Robert Sacre is often overlooked when the Lakers future is discussed, even though he’s one of only four players under contract after June, but he might become an integral part of the team going forward, writes Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times.
- Pau Gasol told Marca.com (translation by Orazio Cauchi of Sportando) that he might stay with the Lakers after this season. His contract is set to expire after the season ends. Gasol said, “My priority is basketball. I want to be on a team with real chances of winning the championship next season. I don’t rule out staying in Los Angeles if the circumstances are appropriate.“
- Warriors veteran big man Jermaine O’Neal called any talk of firing coach Mark Jackson “ridiculous” and “unfair”, and said that if he plays another season it will be because of Jackson, writes Diamond Leung of The San Jose Mercury News. O’Neal said, “The No. 1 reason that I will come back and play another year is because of Coach Jackson. I’m absolutely, 100 percent positive about that. He makes it easy to come in this gym every day, and there’s not a lot of coaches that do that.” He also mentioned that he would choose Golden State despite the distance from family because Jackson has shown just how much he cares about his players, writes Leung.