Trade Rumors: Gasol, Hawks, Bucks, Bobcats
The trade deadline is two months and one day away, and we'll be hearing a lot about trade candidates in the coming weeks. HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler provides an update on a few teams and players we're likely to hear more about soon.
- While Kyler believes it's "inevitable" the Lakers will trade Pau Gasol, he doesn't think there's much of a market for him, having heard there are only three or four teams in the mix. No one is offering a "home run" deal, and trading Gasol now would mean selling low. The Lakers would like to swap Gasol for a pair of players on less lucrative deals who would be better fits, but no such deal is out there at the moment. L.A. has a full roster with 15 players, and the team would like to open up a spot. Kyler speculates that the Lakers could move Jordan Hill, Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris or Darius Johnson-Odom for a second-round pick or a backup point guard.
- The Hawks want to trade some of their expiring contracts for a player who can help the team this season, but they won't make a deal unless it's an obvious win. They still want to have enough cap space to fit Dwight Howard or Chris Paul on the team, and with only about $18.5MM in commitments for next season, not including cap holds for free agents like Josh Smith, whom they're optimistic about re-signing and, according to Kyler, not planning to trade. The Hawks could probably add a player who helps now while maintaining enough flexibility this summer.
- We heard yesterday that the Bucks have told Brandon Jennings they'll match any offer he'll get in restricted free agency. That makes Monta Ellis the more likely to be traded among the team's pair of backcourt aces, but Kyler hears that there are teams with interest in both. If Milwaukee elects to hang on to Jennings and Ellis, it isn't worried about losing either in free agency.
- Everyone on the Bobcats is available in a trade, a source tells Kyler. That's not a shock, considering the team has lost 13 in a row, but Kyler cautions that Gerald Henderson probably won't be dealt unless it's as part of a package with others.
- While the Magic are open to sending J.J. Redick away in a deal that offloads other contracts, the team doesn't want to let him go, as GM Rob Hennigan and the revamped front office has become more fond of the veteran two-guard than they were at the beginning of the season.
- Kyler believes the Raptors must trade Jose Calderon to recoup value for him before he becomes a free agent next summer, and while it seems like Andrea Bargnani is headed out of Toronto, too, uncertainty about GM Bryan Colangelo's future is complicating potential deals.
- If the Jazz remain in the playoff picture, a deal is less likely, but if not, Utah will look to unload one of its big men for draft picks and players on rookie contracts.
Pacific Notes: Gasol, Kobe, Lakers, Warriors, Curry
Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio spent the first quarter of the season on the sidelines, giving him plenty of time to keep up on the latest from around the league. On a conference call yesterday, Rubio said that he took special notice of Pau Gasol‘s situation in Los Angeles, according to HoopsHype (on Sulia). “Gasol has given the Lakers a lot and I don’t feel he’s getting enough in return, especially as far as confidence,” Rubio said of his fellow Spaniard. “But he’s a pro. If he goes to another team, I think he would make a contender out of that team. Wherever he goes, he’s going to be fighting for the title.” More on the Lakers and other items out of the Pacific..
- Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req’d) spoke with a GM, assistant coach, and two scouts who blame Kobe Bryant‘s shooting output for the Lakers‘ woes. The Lakers are just 4-11 when Bryant takes 20 or more shots in a game but are 8-3 when he shoots less than 20 times. It’s a surprising statistic when you consider that Bryant is leading the league in scoring with 29.5 PPG clip while shooting a career-high 47.7 percent from the floor.
- Warriors owner Joe Lacob sat down with Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group to discuss a number of topics, including Stephen Curry‘s four-year, $44MM extension. Lacob explained that there was risk in giving Curry the deal given his ankle problems heading into this season, but the two parties were able to agree on a number that accounted for that risk.
- In part two of his sit down with Kawakami, Lacob explained that even though the club would like to get under the luxury tax threshold this summer, they’re not under any sort of mandate to do so. The Warriors would be willing to pay the penalty if there was an opportunity “to improve the team and to take [it] to a higher level.”
- The Lakers probably wouldn’t have been able to land Steve Nash this summer if Ramon Sessions hadn’t opted out of his $4.55MM player option, GM Mitch Kupchak told Mark Medina of the Press-Telegram. Sessions went on to sign a two-year deal with the Bobcats and says that he’s happy to have a sense of job security with his new team.
Antawn Jamison Confused About Role With Lakers
Antawn Jamison was in the starting lineup for the Lakers less than a week ago, but last night, coach Mike D'Antoni never brought him off the bench in a one-point win over the Bobcats. That's left Jamison puzzled about his suddenly shrinking role in L.A., he tells Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.
"I’m here to win a championship. If me not being out there improves our chances, then you have to roll with it. Of course I’m not excited about it. I want to compete. I know if I’m out there, I can contribute. But what else can you do?" the power forward said.
Jamison's signing of a one-year, minimum-salary deal in the offseason was one of the most surprising moves of the summer, since he could have been in line for much more after a season in which he was the second-leading scorer for the Cavs, at 17.2 points per game, and also the team's third-leading rebounder, notching 6.3 boards per contest. The former North Carolina Tar Heel will be a free agent again next summer, and he said that he'd like to play for the Bobcats at some point. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer wonders whether the Lakers might just trade him to Charlotte this season if they decide they don't have a use for him (Twitter link).
D'Antoni has been tinkering with his rotation quite a bit of late, and also handed out a DNP-CD to fellow power forward Jordan Hill last night, as Pau Gasol made his return to the lineup after sitting out to rest his knees. The coach said neither Jamison nor Hill did anything to deserve their lack of playing time, and that he's just trying to figure out how best to configure the team. Hill and Jamison have both been in the starting lineup at different points this season, with Hill having made his lone start of the season on the 11th against the Cavs.
Eastern Rumors: Jamison, Celtics, D-Will, Wall
Just three games separate the 10th-place Magic from the fourth-place Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings, so it could be quite a scramble for the last few playoff spots. In the meantime, here's what's making news for Eastern teams.
- Antawn Jamison called Bobcats basketball president Rod Higgins when he chose a one-year deal with the Lakers over signing with the Cats this summer, and the veteran power forward, who played his high school ball in the Queen City, won't rule out a return to Charlotte. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer provides detail. "If they still want me back home, I’d sure listen." he said. "I have another couple of years in this body. If they want me, I’d have no reservations about putting on a Bobcats uniform."
- As part of a chat that also touches on several draft prospects, Chad Ford of ESPN.com says the Celtics are high on Tyreke Evans, though they're not as enamored with the fourth-year guard as they were some time ago, when they were willing to trade Rajon Rondo for him. Ford isn't sure the C's possess what the Kings would want in a swap for their soon-to-be restricted free agent.
- The Celtics made moves in the offseason to improve their depth, but advanced statistics show they're not getting much production from anyone other than Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, as Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe highlights.
- Deron Williams blamed the media for putting too much credence into his comparison of the Nets' offense to the motion sets he ran with the Jazz, while Brooklyn coach Avery Johnson said he doesn't take Williams' comments personally. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News has the story.
- With John Wall believing his chances of returning to play soon are 50-50, Deron Snyder of The Washington Times argues the Wizards should just shut him down for the season if he isn't back in a month. That would give him ample time to heal, and there isn't much the Wizards can accomplish this season with or without him, Snyder believes.
Odds & Ends: Kings, Van Gundy, Howard, Louisville
The Kings, currently 7-17, will be a team to watch as the season progresses. Yesterday, there were some contradictory reports as to whether the team would deal Tyreke Evans, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason. Earlier this month, we heard that DeMarcus Cousins, despite his third-year struggles, will not be made available. Asked about the possibility of the Celtics acquiring Evans and/or Cousins today, CSNNE's A. Sherrod Blakely tweeted that while the talented duo isn't yet available, that will likely change.
Here are some other odds and ends from around the League:
- Stan Van Gundy talks about his grievances with commissioner David Stern, his disagreements with the Magic front office, and his continued communication with Dwight Howard, among other topics, with Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca on Slate's Hang Up and Listen podcast.
- Speaking of Howard, the Lakers center will be a free agent next summer. But HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler gave an emphatic "no" when asked on Twitter whether Howard would entertain a return to the Magic.
- Writing for Forbes, Darren Heitner says that although the idea has initially been met with skepticism, Louisville should be near the top of the list for the next city to get an NBA team. Using the highly profitable University of Louisville basketball program as an example, Heitner says that Louisville is a "basketball city in a basketball state."
Lakers Still Considering Backcourt Upgrade
With Pau Gasol set to return to the lineup tonight, and Steve Nash on track to follow him back on the court by this weekend, the level of panic in Lakerland has gone down a tick. L.A. is carrying a modest two-game win streak into their game against the reeling Bobcats tonight, but that doesn't mean the Lakers have withdrawn from their search for help. The team is still studying its options as it seeks to improve the backcourt, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Nonetheless, signing Delonte West isn't in the team's immediate plans, Shelburne reports (Twitter links).
West, Mike James and Jonny Flynn were reportedly potential targets for the Lakers, who've been without Nash as well as Steve Blake, who'll seemingly be out for at least another month, judging from the timetable given when Blake underwent abdominal surgery. If the team wants a better backup for the 38-year-old Nash in the meantime, it may look elsewhere, but since the Lakers have a full complement of 15 players, they'd have to waive someone to bring a free agent on board. The likeliest to go would be either Darius Johnson-Odom and Robert Sacre, both of whom are on non-guaranteed deals, but the Lakers might not want to give up on one of this year's second-round picks so soon just to make a temporary fix.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the team's top target is Jose Calderon, but that would require a trade that would significantly shake up the roster. The timing isn't right for the Raptors, who are in need of Calderon while starting point guard Kyle Lowry recovers from a torn triceps. The Lakers have maintained that they want to get a look at the team with Gasol and Nash together, so it makes sense that they would hold off on making a move, particularly a drastic one, until they've played at least a few games at full strength.
Odds & Ends: Kings, Evans, Augustin, Draft
Two of the league's premier franchises received good news this afternoon. Knicks coach Mike Woodson announced that Amare Stoudemire was cleared for practice and will practice with the club's D-League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks. Meanwhile, sources told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that Lakers guard Steve Nash is eyeing a return to the Lakers' lineup Saturday against the Warriors if practice goes well this week. The Lakers have considered trading Pau Gasol, but reports have indicated that they are waiting to see what the club looks like with Nash in the fold before making a drastic change. Here's more from around the Association..
- The Kings are still saying that they plan on holding on to Tyreke Evans, according to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld (via Twitter). Evans and General Manager Geoff Petrie recently had a productive meeting, but a source close to the guard told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that the club will move him if they don't think they can afford to re-sign him. Evans will be a restricted free agent this summer.
- More from Kyler (via Twitter), who was asked if Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard might look to trade guard D.J. Augustin. It seems like a possibility, but Kyler writes that his weak play as of late may mean that no one wants him. Meanwhile, the one-guard's name is coming up frequently as a trade candidate.
- Jay Bilas and Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) run down the top players in the 2013 NBA Draft. Neither analyst sees a franchise-changing superstar in the class but both agree that Kentucky's Nerlens Noel is the top talent in the draft, not Maryland's Alex Len.
Western Notes: Billups, Nuggets, Lakers, Suns
The latest rumblings from around the Western Conference:
- Chauncey Billups thinks the Pistons might still be an elite team if they hadn't traded him to the Nuggets four years ago, as Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News documents. "I still had some great, great years left," the point guard said. "I never wanted to leave, even though I was home (Denver) and it was good to be home, I always wanted to be a Piston. I wanted to retire a Piston."
- Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com tweets that Nuggets coach George Karl wants to coach in Europe again one day, with his son, Coby Karl, as an assistant.
- Aaron J. Lopez of Nuggets.com writes that JaVale McGee is becoming more efficient for the Nuggets.
- Paul Coro of USA Today points out that the Suns own the Lakers' 2013 first-round draft pick as part of the Steve Nash trade, meaning they could benefit if the Lakers continue to struggle.
Atlantic Notes: Bynum, Felton, Celtics
The latest news and notes from around the Atlantic Division on Monday afternoon:
- John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News believes no winner has emerged from the Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum trade, but points out that while the Sixers would have plenty of flexibility if Bynum left in free agency next summer, the Lakers would still be over the cap if Howard departs.
- Bynum has some advice for Howard regarding playing with Kobe Bryant, which he relays to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
- Raymond Felton has bone bruises on both of his hands, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe calls for widespread contributions from players on the Celtics' roster.
- Avery Bradley has returned to practice for the first time since having shoulder surgery in May, reports Washburn.
Aldridge On Raptors, Varejao, LeBron, Thunder
TNT's David Aldridge checks in as usual on a Monday with his Morning Tip column at NBA.com, and this week's edition is full of trade rumors as talk heats up around the league. Here's a digest of Aldridge's latest scuttlebutt, with a heavy focus on the Raptors.
- While Andrea Bargnani's elbow injury will keep him out for a month, delaying trade talk, one rival GM is convinced he'll eventually be leaving the Raptors, feeling as though there's no doubt GM Bryan Colangelo will trade him.
- The Raptors are leery of adding another international player, according to Aldridge, which would make them reluctant to trade for Pau Gasol.
- Aldridge speculates the Raptors won't deal Jose Calderon to the Lakers, and instead ship him somewhere for a draft pick to create a massive trade exception. Aldridge writes that such a trade exception would be $15.6MM, but I believe it would be closer to $10.6MM, reflecting Calderon's salary.
- A league executive speculates that the Cavs will hold on to Varejao through the summer of 2014, when LeBron James can become a free agent, so they can make a pitch to their erstwhile superstar. In any case, the Cavs have set Varejao's asking price too high for other teams' tastes, as they often do with their many of their players, according to Aldridge.
- Though the Thunder are reportedly content to stand pat for now, Aldridge believes they could try to move the Raptors pick they got from the Rockets in the James Harden trade, speculating that one of their targets could be Varejao.
- Aldridge spoke with a GM who joins the seeming consensus that the Jazz are more likely to deal Paul Millsap than Al Jefferson. The GM believes Jefferson is a better fit with Derrick Favors.
- The Bucks want an upgrade at small forward, and Aldridge thinks the team is more likely to move "one of its undersized four or oversized threes" than trade Brandon Jennings or Monta Ellis.
- The Wizards are open to trading one of their big men for veteran help at the point, where they're woefully thin in John Wall's absence.
- The Pacers are willing to tinker, but aren't putting Paul George or George Hill on the table.
- No one aside from Jrue Holiday is off-limits as the Sixers seek a big man, though it would take a lot to pry Thaddeus Young or Evan Turner from their hands.