Poll: Most Improved Player In The Pacific?
The spotlight in the Pacific Division will surely be on former Clipper reserve Eric Bledsoe, who will now headline Phoenix's backcourt next to another young talent in Goran Dragic. Bledsoe's numbers last season (8.5 PPG/3.1 APG/20.4 MPG) wouldn't seem very comparable to what will be expected of him in 2013/14, especially considering some of his standout performances when given more than 30 minutes of playing time: 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in 38 minutes against the Celtics, 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in 37 minutes against the Rockets, 10 points, 10 assists, and six steals in 39 minutes against the Timberwolves, and a 27-point, 6 rebound, 6 steal, and 3-block performance in 41 minutes against the Magic to name a few. Now equipped with starter's minutes, it will be fascinating to see how the 6'1 guard will utilize his significantly increased role and responsibilities as a leader of a young team.
Keeping all this in mind, Bledsoe should undoubtedly be among the favorites within the whole league to have a breakout season. With that aside, it was unquestionably a summer of shakeups for the rest of the Pacific Division, as each of the other four teams will feature new key rotation players in 2013/14. Let's take a look at some of the other new faces looking to make a lasting impact on their respective clubs:
Marreese Speights, Warriors – The 6'10 power forward is entering his sixth year in the league and will be playing for his fourth NBA team after signing with Golden State this past July. Following a trade from Memphis to Cleveland halfway through last season, Speights averaged 10.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 18.5 MPG in 39 games and one start for the Cavaliers. Although Sean Deveney of the Sporting News and NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper have reported that the team is currently expecting Andrew Bogut and David Lee to be healthy enough to play without limitation, head coach Mark Jackson could possibly rely on Speights for extended minutes on some nights in order to preserve some of his older frontcourt veterans.
Considering his production in a limited amount of minutes last season, the former Florida standout could prove to be one of the most important reserves on a playoff contender this year and may open some more eyes in the process.
Byron Mullens, Clippers – Fresh off of career highs in points, rebounds, and minutes last season with the Bobcats (10.8/6.4/26.9), it remains to be seen just how Mullens' minutes and role will be handled in Los Angeles. The 7'0 big man put together a flurry of attention-grabbing performances last season, averaging 12.9 PPG/8.2 RPG/33.0 MPG in November and 10.0/7.3/28.6 in December before being sidelined with an ankle injury. Following a 19-game absence, Mullens picked up where he left off, posting 14.6/7.9/32.1 in February.
Although his overall shooting percentages were less than desirable last season (.385/.317/.636), one thing to consider is the possible improvement in the quality of shot attempts as a by-product of playing with a superstar playmaker in Chris Paul and his solid distributing backup, Darren Collison. Byron's confidence in attempting perimeter shots is far from lacking, as nearly four of his 10.6 shot attempts per game last year were taken from beyond the arc. With that being said, Mullens may very well be a viable threat who can stretch the floor provided he can improve his shooting efficiency and have better opportunities created for him. If given the minutes, he's shown that he can definitely put up some numbers.
Wesley Johnson, Lakers – Despite his lack of floor time for the first four months of 2012/13, the 6'7 swingman made the most of his situation after being given consistent starter's minutes in the final two months of the season, averaging 13.2 PPG/1.2 SPG/30.3 MPG in March along with 12.9 PPG and 27.3 MPG in April respectively. He did well enough that despite the Suns opting not to exercise his fourth year option, there was still mutual interest in a return to Phoenix this summer. Ultimately, the former lottery pick out of Syracuse wound up with the Lakers, where he should have his fair share of opportunities as an athletic player in Mike D'Antoni's system. With Johnson playing on a one-year contract, it'd certainly be in his best interest to continue his momentum from last season and perform well enough to earn a lucrative contract next summer, whether it'd be in L.A. or somewhere else.
Greivis Vasquez, Kings – It's more than reasonable to deem 2012/13 as a breakout year for Vasquez. The 6'6 point guard rose to the occasion in New Orleans, producing an impressive 13.9 PPG and 9.0 APG stat line in 34.4 MPG and 78 games played/started. It's important to note that he'll be entering a contract year, and one significant question is how Vasquez's numbers will fare with an entirely different cast of teammates, especially with the surplus of guards on the roster – namely Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore, Marcus Thornton, and Jimmer Fredette. Although the former Maryland star displayed his capabilities as a distributor and a tertiary scoring option last season, it appears that another major improvement within reach would be to raise his shooting percentages (.433/.342) as well as the amount of times he gets to the line (2.0). Following his career-best season to date, Vasquez will surely have to deliver in his most important one yet.
After Bledsoe, who would you expect to be the most improved player in the Pacific Division?
Most Improved Player In The Pacific?
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Greivis Vasquez 35% (215)
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Wesley Johnson 31% (190)
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Marreese Speights 18% (111)
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Other 8% (46)
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Byron Mullens 7% (44)
Total votes: 606
Lakers Sign Xavier Henry
The Lakers have officially signed Xavier Henry, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed, but I'd expect it to be some form of non-guaranteed training camp invite.
Word of the Lakers' interest in Henry was reported yesterday by Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com, with fellow ESPN scribe Dave McMenamin adding (via Twitter) that the 6'6" guard was poised to become a camp invitee.
Henry, an Arn Tellem client, became an unrestricted free agent this summer because the Pelicans decided not to exercise the fourth-year option on his rookie contract. The Kansas product has yet to make a real impact in three NBA seasons with Memphis and New Orleans, averaging 4.5 PPG in 133 career contests. However, Henry was a lottery pick in 2010 and is just 22 years old, so there may still be some upside.
As our list of NBA roster counts shows, Henry becomes the 14th Lakers player under contract. That number doesn't include Marcus Landry, who is expected to receive a camp invite, and second-round pick Ryan Kelly, who has yet to officially sign with the team. With only 11 Lakers believed to be on fully guaranteed deals, Henry should have the opportunity to try to earn a roster spot next month.
International Notes: Richards, Marshall, Caracter
Just as the NBA's free agent frenzy is largely behind us, most significant international signings have already taken place as well. Still, there are a few players and teams making news overseas, and Mark Porcaro of Secret Rival has the latest:
- Spurs "draft-and-stash" player Ryan Richards has signed to play for Al Nasr Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Porcaro tweets. San Antonio retains the British-born forward/center's NBA rights should he come stateside at some point.
- Zeke Marshall played for the Sixers in summer league after going undrafted this June, but he'll be headed overseas for the season. He's joining Slask Wroclaw of Poland, which released Derrick Caracter just a week or so after finalizing a deal with the former Lakers big man (Twitter link). Caracter's knee and shoulder issues prompted the team to cut ties, according to Porcaro.
- Julian Wright was a lottery pick in 2007, but he hasn't played in the NBA since 2010/11, and it looks like a return to the Association isn't in the cards right now. He's signed with Krasnye Krylya in Russia (Twitter link).
Magic, Mavs, Hawks Eyeing Devin Ebanks
HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy reported more than a month ago that four clubs had interest in former Laker Devin Ebanks, and while three of them appear to have dropped out of the running, two more have joined the pursuit. The Magic, Mavericks and Hawks have expressed interest in Ebanks, Kennedy tweets this evening. Atlanta is the only team repeated from the late July report that also named the Bucks and Bobcats.
Ebanks has spent his entire three-year career with the Lakers, who drafted him 43rd overall in 2010. The team initially gave him a two-year contract, so he was up for restricted free agency last summer and wound up signing his qualifying offer. The Lakers decided against extending a QO this time around, making him an unrestricted free agent. The team hasn't been linked to him since, so it appears he won't be back in purple and gold.
The former West Virginia Mountaineer enjoyed his best pro season in 2011/12, when he began the year as the starting small forward for the Lakers. That assignment didn't last, and he's otherwise struggled to find playing time, averaging 11.3 minutes per game for his career. Still, he's only appeared in nine D-League contests, and the Lakers didn't assign him to the L.A. D-Fenders, their affiliate, at all last season.
The Mavs have 15 players, all of whom are on guaranteed contracts, while the Hawks and Magic have fewer than 15 guaranteed deals, as our roster counts show. That may give Atlanta and Orlando an edge for the David Bauman client.
Western Rumors: Odom, Wolves, Kings, Lee, Mavs
Jordan Farmar tells Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com that he and other former teammates of Lamar Odom haven't heard back from the free agent forward amid ominous reports about his off-court issues. McMenamin also shares reflections on Odom from other current and former Lakers figures, and the scribe finishes with a touching personal anecdote about his interaction with the forward. Of course, Odom isn't the only NBA player dealing with trouble these days. About half of Hoops Rumors readers believe Michael Beasley is worth a look from their favorite teams, so perhaps there's a chance Odom can make it back to the NBA. Here's more from around the Western Conference:
- Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor tells Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (Twitter link) that the club doesn't have any interest in bringing in a veteran free agent as a 15th man, preferring to keep that last roster spot open for a young player.
- A labor agreement for the construction of a new Kings arena in Sacramento was announced today, as expected, but the head of a group that opposes such agreements says they may donate to the same anti-arena petition effort that Seattle investor Chris Hansen funded. Ryan Lillis and Dale Kasler of The Sacramento Bee have the details.
- David Lee's offseason hip surgery revealed the injury he suffered in the playoffs was even worse than previously thought, but he's already back to 100% and working out with most of his Warriors teammates, as Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group reports.
- The Mavericks have hired Wizards scout Mike Wilson in a player personnel role, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
- We rounded up a few items from the Pacific Division earlier today.
Lakers Have Interest In Xavier Henry
The Lakers officially announced the signing of Shawne Williams yesterday, but even if Williams earns a regular-season spot, the team should still have room for a couple more players. One potential target for L.A. is ex-Pelican Xavier Henry, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com, who tweets that the Lakers have a "level of interest" in Henry.
Henry, a 6'6" guard, remains unsigned after the Pelicans decided not to exercise the fourth-year option on his rookie contract. The Kansas product has yet to make a real impact in three NBA seasons with Memphis and New Orleans, averaging 4.5 PPG in 133 career contests. However, Henry was a lottery pick in 2010 and is still just 22 years old, so there's some potential upside there. If he were to sign with the Lakers or another team, I imagine he'd receive a non-guaranteed deal.
As the Lakers weigh camp options, one player they don't seem to be considering is Michael Beasley, according to Shelburne (via Twitter). Los Angeles has had interest in Beasley in the past, and reportedly came close to acquiring him at the 2012 trade deadline, leading to some speculation yesterday that he could be on the club's radar again. For now though, the Lakers appear to be looking elsewhere.
L.A. Rumors: Amundson, Kelly, Beasley, Nelson
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.
Lakers Sign Shawne Williams
SEPTEMBER 3RD: The Lakers finally made the signing official, as Mike Trudell of Lakers.com passes the news along via Twitter.
JULY 19TH: The Lakers and Shawne Williams have reached agreement on deal that will bring the veteran forward to training camp, tweets Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. The wording of Begley's tweet indicates that it's just a camp invitation, which would mean a one-year, minimum-salary deal with no guarantee, but the precise terms of the arrangement are unclear.
Marc Berman of the New York Post wrote last month that Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, who had Williams on one of his Knicks teams, wanted to work with him again, and Begley notes that D'Antoni regards the 27-year-old highly. Williams reportedly worked out for the Lakers and several other teams this summer, including the Knicks. Agent Happy Walters said in June that Williams "loved his time" with New York but would make playing time a priority when he chose his next team.
The University of Memphis product has spent parts of five seasons in the NBA, last appearing with the Nets in 2011/12. He averaged double-digit minutes all five years, but he's put up just 5.7 points per game for his career.
Celtics, Lakers, Spurs Eyeing Sebastian Telfair?
Although he has been the subject of plenty of rumors and reports since free agency opened two months ago, Sebastian Telfair remains unsigned. The veteran point guard continues to draw interest from NBA teams though, according to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, who tweets that the Celtics, Lakers, and Spurs may be in the mix.
It's not clear whether those clubs have just kicked the tires on Telfair, or whether their interest is more serious, but none of them have been cited so far this offseason as a potential suitor. Previously, the Knicks, Nets, Heat, and Thunder were mentioned as a few possible destinations for Telfair, though some of those teams have since signed other players.
Boston currently has 14 players on guaranteed contracts, plus Donte Greene and three camp invitees, so the C's may not have much room for Telfair. That goes for the Spurs as well, who seem to be well-stocked at point guard already, with Cory Joseph, Nando De Colo, and Patrick Mills capable of playing the point behind Tony Parker. As for the Lakers, they already have Steve Nash, Steve Blake, and Jordan Farmar under contract.
Telfair, 28, appeared in 59 games last season for the Suns and Raptors, averaging 5.6 PPG and 2.6 APG in 16.6 minutes per contest. His .362 FG% was a career-worst mark, but many of his other rates, including a 10.9 PER and .353 3PT%, were in line with, or better than, his career averages.
Pete Mickeal Drawing Interest From Lakers, 76ers
Pete Mickeal has been one of the top Americans playing abroad for the last decade and NBA interest has picked up considerably for him this season, agent Happy Walters tells HoopsHype (on Twitter). The Lakers and Sixers are among the teams that are fans of Mickeal and thinking about bringing him stateside.
Mickeal has struggled with injury last season but he's now 100% and clear to play, according to Walters (Twitter link). However, the small forward will only sign with an NBA team if he gets a guaranteed deal (link). A guaranteed deal could be hard to come by for the 35-year-old, but the Sixers still need to add players and salary to reach the league minimum. Philadelphia obviously isn't in a position to contend this season, but a veteran presence could be a welcome addition for the young club.
Mickeal was drafted by the Mavs in the second round of the 2000 Draft, waived, and picked up by the Knicks, but he never saw live action thanks to injury. He eventually wound up traveling around the globe with stints in the Philippines, Greece, Russia, and South Korea. He's spent the last few years with FC Barcelona, leading them to championship gold and capturing the Spanish Cup MVP last season.