Pacific Links: Len, Lakers, Kings
Here are some links to pass along out of the Pacific Division tonight:
- Royce Young of CBS Sports relayed a tweet from Suns rookie Alex Len, who revealed that he's been cleared to start practicing and should therefore be ready for the start of training camp.
- Adi Joseph and Sean Highkin of USA Today have been ranking NBA teams according to their "watchability" next season and continue their list with the Lakers, who come in at number 24. With the departure of Dwight Howard leaving the roster thinner and the possibility that the team continues to struggle with injuries, Joseph expects the purple and gold to only win 33 games and ultimately miss the playoffs.
- Next on the list are the Kings at 23, whom Joseph projects to finish 25-57 and fall short of a playoff berth. Although Greivis Vasquez' unselfish play should benefit DeMarcus Cousins and the team could be very entertaining, Joseph points out that the overall roster remains in flux and will continue to struggle heavily on defense.
- Kevin Ding of the OC Register (via Twitter) notes that the Lakers training camp will open on September 29 after the team pushed their media day back to the 28th.
Odds & Ends: Seattle, Expansion, Thunder
There has been speculation that Chris Hansen's contributions to an anti-Kings-arena movement in Sacramento could hurt Seattle's chances of eventually landing an NBA franchise. However, current commissioner David Stern and future commissioner Adam Silver both recently downplayed concerns about the league or its owners holding a grudge, according to Percy Allen of the Seattle Times. You can find more of this evening's miscellaneous news and notes below, including more from the above article:
- Allen also points out that Hansen still has around four years to secure an NBA team and finalize an agreement with Seattle and King County to build a $490MM arena in Sodo with $200MM in public subsidies.
- Given that there currently aren't any teams for sale, Silver had this to say about possible expansion within the near future: "I would never say it’s never going to happen. There’s nothing in the works at the moment…Obviously the league has grown over the years and there may come a point to look at it…But right now coming off of our new collective bargaining agreement, we really want to make sure we have 30 franchises that are all financially sound."
- RealGM's Jonathan Tjarks makes a case for why the Thunder's core still has enough time to win a title.
- Mark Willard and Arash Markazi of ESPN LA talk about what Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni has to accomplish in order to keep his job in Los Angeles.
- Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com discusses the ten players most likely to be dealt this season (Insiders only). Among the more notable names on the list include Luol Deng (who we recently heard is set to hit free agency next summer), Rajon Rondo, Omer Asik, and Danny Granger.
Contract Details: Warriors, Lakers, Davies, Lockett
Most of the contracts being signed these days are non-guaranteed and worth the minimum salary, essentially amounting to make-good deals for camp. However, a few players who recently joined NBA clubs received modest guarantees, ensuring they'll make some money whether or not they earn a roster spot. Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com has the details, so let's round them up….
- The Warriors will pay partial guarantees to two recent signees, Seth Curry and DeWayne Dedmon. Both players inked one-year rookie minimum contracts, but Curry received the larger guarantee — $75K to Dedmon's $25K.
- The Lakers guaranteed $100K of Shawne Williams' one-year, minimum-salary deal.
- Brandon Davies' two-year deal with the Clippers is partially guaranteed for $50K in 2013/14.
- Trent Lockett's two-year contract with the Kings is currently guaranteed for $35K, but he can increase that amount by earning a spot on the team's regular-season roster. Lockett's guarantee will become $100K if he's not waived by opening night, and if he keeps a roster spot all year, his 2014/15 salary will become guaranteed for $100K on the last day of the '13/14 season.
- The Pelicans cut Lance Thomas in July to clear cap space for their new additions, then re-signed him to a new deal. Thomas received a guarantee of $15K for his trouble — his previous contract had been fully non-guaranteed.
Lakers Notes: Landry, Bryant, James, Jackson
Let's round up the latest from the always-busy rumor mill in Los Angeles:
- Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register tweets that he expects the Lakers to sign Marcus Landry, younger brother of Carl Landry, in the near future. Ding also adds that Landry, if signed, would have a good shot to make the team. This sounds very similar to several reports we heard in late July regarding Landry and the Lakers, but no official deal was reached. Landry last appeared in 18 games in the 2009/10 season with the Knicks and Celtics. He has since bounced between the D-League and Europe, and played with the Reno Bighorns of the D-League last season.
- With second-rounder Ryan Kelly not expected to be ready for camp, Ding tweets that three of Landry, Xavier Henry, Shawne Williams and Elias Harris could make the Lakers' roster. A chunk of Harris' deal is guaranteed, making him a good bet for a roster spot, but there’s been no confirmation of any guarantee for Henry, Williams or Landry, assuming he is signed.
- It is hard to consider Kobe Bryant's looming presence on the Lakers as anything but a negative recruiting tool when it comes to near-future premiere free agents, writes Andy Kamenetzky of Land O'Lakers, who agrees with the notion that LeBron James, or any of the league's other elite players, would be hesitant to join Bryant in Los Angeles.
- Jim Buss and his father, the late Jerry Buss, knew that the Lakers couldn't keep the expensive team they showcased last year together past the 2012/13 season, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, who says this sentiment made it difficult for the team to secure Phil Jackson as coach. Ownership knew they had to rebuild soon, Shelburne says, largely due to the extreme luxury tax situation they would face this season. Because of this, the Lakers didn't feel right giving Jackson a two-year pact knowing the second year would be a transition year, she adds (Twitter links here).
Pacific Notes: Buss, Lakers, Nunnally, Kings
Many Lakers fans have been skeptical about executive vice president Jim Buss assuming a decision-making role in the organization previously held by his late father, Jerry Buss. But Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes that Jim had gained the trust of his father, and that the two men worked together in making decisions like the hiring of Mike D'Antoni, who they felt was a better fit than Phil Jackson. Shelburne's piece includes plenty of interesting tidbits and quotes from Buss, who adds that he'd be "all for it" if Jackson wanted to work with the Lakers on a consultant basis.
Here's more from around the Pacific Division:
- In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Bradford Doolittle proposes a few steps for rebuilding the Lakers, including re-signing Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol next summer, trading Steve Nash, and keeping their 2014 first-round pick.
- Sources indicate to Henry Abbott of ESPN.com that the Lakers could have trouble attracting impact free agents next summer, in part because it's not clear how much cap space the team will have, and in part because of Kobe's reputation as a difficult teammate.
- Yesterday, we heard that free agent swingman James Nunnally would work out for the Spurs and Jazz. Today, Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside adds a couple more teams to the mix, writing that Nunnally will also audition for the Suns, as well as the Pelicans, in the hopes of earning a camp invite.
- Without the petition signatures that Chris Hansen's money was able to buy, there's not much momentum left for the anti-arena effort in Sacramento, according to Marcos Breton of the Sacramento Bee.
Odds & Ends: Heat, Nash, Sixers
A few random notes from around the league.
- The Heat have told agents they may be content keeping the 13 guaranteed contracts they already have on their roster, rather than adding more players for the season, according to a tweet from the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman.
- InsideSoCal.com's Mark Medina breaks down Steve Nash as starting point guard for the Lakers this season and what the team should expect—specifically related to his place on the depth chart and whether he can stay healthy.
- Brandon Williams has accepted a job with the Sixers beneath general manager Sam Hinkie, according to a tweet from Grantland.com's Zach Lowe. Williams previously worked in basketball operations for the league.
Contract Details: Sanders, Pekovic, Harris, Bost
Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com is back with another round of salary details for several of the new contracts signed in recent weeks. Here's a round-up:
- Larry Sanders' new four-year contract extension with the Bucks will pay him an even $11MM in each season. Those figures will increase slightly if Sanders reaches contract incentives currently considered unlikely.
- The Timberwolves' five-year deal with Nikola Pekovic will pay the big center $12.1MM in each of the next four seasons, before dipping to $11.6MM in year five. His potential incentives are also listed as unlikely, meaning they don't count against the cap for now.
- Elias Harris' deal with the Lakers is a two-year, minimum-salary pact. It's guaranteed for $100K in year one, and fully non-guaranteed in year two.
- The Cavaliers inked Matthew Dellavedova to a two-year contract that looks virtually identical to Harris' — his minimum salary is partially guaranteed for $100K in 2013/14.
- Like Harris and Dellavedova, Dee Bost also signed a two-year minimum contract, but his deal with the Trail Blazers is only guaranteed for $25K this season.
Odds & Ends: Lakers, Celtics, Davis, Valanciunas
The Lakers started last season with a Hall of Fame-bound backcourt of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash with Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks in support. They ended it with two former second-round picks – Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock – playing close to 40 minutes apiece in a playoff game. Last season proved that backcourt depth is important for L.A., and Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com breaks down the Lakers' guards from top to bottom, including the return of Jordan Farmar and newcomer Nick Young. Here's tonight's look around the NBA…
- Former NBA player and new Wolves assistant coach Bobby Jackson has been putting Chase Budinger and rookie draft picks Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng, and Lorenzo Brown through tough two-a-day workouts, writes Dennis Brackin of Star-Tribune.
- The HoopsWorld staff previewed the season ahead for the Bobcats and the potential impact of top acquisition Al Jefferson.
- The Celtics will have offseason additions Kris Humphries and rookie Kelly Olynyk vying for time at the power forward position, writes Marc D'Amico of NBA.com. Humphries was a staple in the Nets' starting lineup for some time but coach Brad Stevens could wind up starting the offense-oriented Olynyk right out of the gate.
- Magic forward Glen Davis, who has been recovering from a broken left foot, is expected to be cleared to resume basketball activities by month's end, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. Big Baby is a trade candidate in Orlando and the Magic would like to move him if he can show that he is healthy and productive.
- RealGM's Jonathan Tjarks looks at the Raptors' Jonas Valanciunas and sees the evolution of today's big man. Valanciunas is big and skilled enough to push smaller defenders around, but still quick and active enough to survive in a more wide-open game. The 21-year-old was taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft.
Suns, Wizards Lead NBA With 7 Rookie-Scale Deals
The Lakers have glitz, glamour and 16 NBA titles. Still, they're the only team in the league without a player on a rookie-scale contract.
Every other club has at least one generally team-friendly rookie-scale deal on its books. The Suns boast seven such deals, nearly half of the 16 guaranteed contracts on their roster, and it makes sense, given the team's commitment to youth this season. The Wizards also have seven rookie-scale contracts, but they have playoff aspirations this season. One of their rookie-scale guys, John Wall, will be getting a hefty raise soon, since he agreed to a maximum-salary extension earlier this summer. For now, though, he's still a bargain, as is Larry Sanders of the Bucks, who also has signed an extension during the season.
Teams aren't so lucky with every rookie-scale contract. The Celtics gave up Fab Melo via trade with the Grizzlies, and Memphis turned around and waived last year's 22nd overall pick. His deal will still be on the team's books, though we don't list it below.
The Sixers are in the middle of the pack with four rookie deals, but they should be climbing the chart soon, since they have a pair of unsigned 2013 draft picks in Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams. The Spurs haven't signed 28th overall pick Livio Jean-Charles, but he seems likely to play overseas this season, so San Antonio will probably stay with two rookie-scale contracts this year.
Here's the complete list, with the year the contract expires in parentheses:
Phoenix Suns (7)
- Alex Len (2017)
- Archie Goodwin (2017)
- Kendall Marshall (2016)
- Miles Plumlee (2016)
- Marcus Morris (2015)
- Markieff Morris (2015)
- Eric Bledsoe (2014)
Washington Wizards (7)
- Otto Porter (2017)
- Bradley Beal (2016)
- Chris Singleton (2015)
- Jan Vesely (2015)
- Trevor Booker (2014)
- Kevin Seraphin (2014)
- John Wall (2014)*
Utah Jazz (6)
- Trey Burke (2017)
- Rudy Gobert (2017)
- Alec Burks (2015)
- Enes Kanter (2015)
- Derrick Favors (2014)
- Gordon Hayward (2014)
Cleveland Cavaliers (5)
- Anthony Bennett (2017)
- Dion Waiters (2016)
- Tyler Zeller (2016)
- Kyrie Irving (2015)
- Tristan Thompson (2015)
Sacramento Kings (5)
- Ben McLemore (2017)
- Jimmer Fredette (2015)
- DeMarcus Cousins (2014)
- Patrick Patterson (2014)
- Greivis Vasquez (2014)
Boston Celtics (5)
- Kelly Olynyk (2017)
- Jared Sullinger (2016)
- MarShon Brooks (2015)
- Avery Bradley (2014)
- Jordan Crawford (2014)
Milwaukee Bucks (5)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (2017)
- John Henson (2016)
- Brandon Knight (2015)
- Larry Sanders (2014)*
- Ekpe Udoh (2014)
Oklahoma City Thunder (5)
- Steven Adams (2017)
- Andre Roberson (2017)
- Perry Jones III (2016)
- Jeremy Lamb (2016)
- Reggie Jackson (2015)
Orlando Magic (5)
- Victor Oladipo (2017)
- Maurice Harkless (2016)
- Andrew Nicholson (2016)
- Tobias Harris (2015)
- Nikola Vucevic (2015)
Charlotte Bobcats (4)
- Cody Zeller (2017)
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2016)
- Bismack Biyombo (2015)
- Kemba Walker (2015)
Golden State Warriors (4)
- Nemanja Nedovic (2017)
- Harrison Barnes (2016)
- Festus Ezeli (2016)
- Klay Thompson (2015)
Minnesota Timberwolves (4)
- Gorgui Dieng (2017)
- Shabazz Muhammad (2017)
- Ricky Rubio (2015)
- Derrick Williams (2015)
Philadelphia 76ers (4) #
- Arnett Moultrie (2016)
- Royce White (2016)
- Tony Wroten (2016)
- Evan Turner (2014)
Portland Trail Blazers (4)
- C.J. McCollum (2017)
- Meyers Leonard (2016)
- Damian Lillard (2016)
- Thomas Robinson (2016)
Atlanta Hawks (3)
- Dennis Schröder (2017)
- John Jenkins (2016)
- Jared Cunningham (2016)
Denver Nuggets (3)
- Evan Fournier (2016)
- Kenneth Faried (2015)
- Jordan Hamilton (2015)
Detroit Pistons (3)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (2017)
- Andre Drummond (2016)
- Greg Monroe (2014)
Chicago Bulls (3)
- Tony Snell (2017)
- Marquis Teague (2016)
- Jimmy Butler (2015)
Houston Rockets (2)
- Terrence Jones (2016)
- Donatas Motiejunas (2016)
Indiana Pacers (2)
- Solomon Hill (2017)
- Paul George (2014)
Memphis Grizzlies (2)
- Ed Davis (2014)
- Quincy Pondexter (2014)
New Orleans Pelicans (2)
- Anthony Davis (2016)
- Austin Rivers (2016)
New York Knicks (2)
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (2017)
- Iman Shumpert (2015)
San Antonio Spurs (2) #
- Cory Joseph (2015)
- Kawhi Leonard (2015)
Toronto Raptors (2)
- Terrence Ross (2016)
- Jonas Valanciunas (2016)
Brooklyn Nets (1)
- Mason Plumlee (2017)
Dallas Mavericks (1)
- Shane Larkin (2017)
Los Angeles Clippers (1)
- Reggie Bullock (2017)
Miami Heat (1)
- Norris Cole (2015)
Los Angeles Lakers (0)
*—Player has received rookie-scale extension
#—Team has unsigned 2013 first-round pick
HoopsWorld was used in the creation of this post.
Odds & Ends: Mavericks, Cuban, Bulls
There's hardly a dull moment with Mark Cuban when he speaks with the media, as the outspoken Mavericks owner said on the Artie Lange Show that hiring a head coach is "harder than finding a wife" (hat tip to SportsDayDFW). On a more serious note, Cuban explained why he'll never trade Dirk Nowitzki:
"Dirk defines our culture. When your best player, no matter how old, is the first one in the gym and the last to leave, and works the hardest and encourages guys the way Dirk does … that has a value that goes far beyond what you see on the court."
Here's a roundup of the rest of tonight's links:
- Cuban briefly goes into the thought process behind his decision to buy the team.
- SportsDayDFW's Tim Cowlishaw isn't interested in the idea of bringing Michael Beasley to Dallas.
- With Luol Deng set to become a free agent next summer and Carlos Boozer a prime candidate to be amnestied, it's now or never for the core of this current Bulls team, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Cowley also passes along some notable quotes on Derrick Rose, who according to GM Gar Forman "seems like he's doing great, feels good, strong…everything has been positive." Forman added that Rose stayed away from pickup games this summer but has done enough to work on his game.
- The NBA will install tracking cameras in every arena around the league starting next season, which will present a vastly different way of experiencing and evaluating the game for analysts, casual fans, and the like (Associated Press via ESPN).
- Stephen Curry can now focus on basketball after a busy summer and has already organized voluntary team workouts (Associated Press via NBA.com). In another piece, Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group goes in-depth about how Curry has embraced his role as the Warriors' leader.
- Kevin Ding of the OC Register further analyzes the Lakers' decision to sign Xavier Henry (Subscribers only).