Kyler On Varejao, Spurs, Gordon, Calderon
HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler took to Twitter to reveal the career-threatening nature of Al Harrington's staph infection, and he also let loose with plenty of trade rumors along the way. We'll round up the juiciest tidbits here (all links via Twitter).
- The Spurs asked the Cavs about Anderson Varejao, but talks didn't proceed too far.
- The Hornets expect Eric Gordon back around Christmas, and aren't biting on any trade offers.
- The Raptors would be a willing partner in a trade that sends Jose Calderon to the Lakers, but Kyler isn't sure the purple-and-gold would be interested.
- Kyler hears Kevin Love "isn't remotely available," echoing what Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio wrote over the weekend, in spite of Love's critical comments about the Wolves last week.
- The Thunder, at a league-best 19-4, are understandably pleased with the season thus far, and they aren't looking to make any moves at the moment. As for the future, a strong playoff run could drive up Kevin Martin's price in free agency this summer, Kyler believes.
Lowe On Clippers, Celtics, Bledsoe, Jazz, Mozgov
Grantland's Zach Lowe looked at several players who became eligible to be traded this weekend, and shares a litany of observations based on his analysis and what he's heard from around the league. Here's a look at some of his rumors:
- Ryan Hollins has fallen behind Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf in the Clippers rotation, and he might be available for a team looking for cheap interior players, suggesting the Celtics, for whom Hollins played last season, as a potential suitor.
- Though Odom and Turiaf are ahead of Hollins, they're still "limited players," according to Lowe, who believes the Clippers could look to upgrade their frontcourt.
- An Eric Bledsoe trade "feels almost inevitable," though it doesn't have to happen this season.
- Lowe expects the Jazz would be more willing to trade Paul Millsap than Al Jefferson, and believes that might make them a fit with the Lakers in a potential Pau Gasol deal, piggybacking on an idea advanced by ESPN.com's Tom Haberstroh (Insider only).
- Echoing a Friday report by Mark J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, Lowe hears Timofey Mozgov is "among the most available players in the league."
- Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas are the only pieces the Knicks have who are both "useful and tradeable," Lowe contends, adding that the Knicks would be reluctant to unload any of their backlog of bigs onto Eastern Conference rivals.
Hawks Remain Uninterested In Pau Gasol
Multiple reports over the last month or so have indicated that the Hawks aren't interested in trading for Pau Gasol, and HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler notes that it continues to be the case, as Hawks officials find the idea they would think about such a trade "laughable." Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times wrote this weekend that the Hawks had asked the Lakers over the summer about their interest in trading Gasol for Josh Smith, adding that the Lakers rejected the idea. Bolch speculated that the Lakers might be warming to the idea of acquiring Smith, but Kyler says the Hawks have never wanted to trade for Gasol.
Such a deal would run counter to GM Danny Ferry's course of clearing cap space, and Kyler hears the Hawks also haven't had talked to the Lakers about Smith. The Hawks have been in steady communication with Smith and believe he's content in Atlanta, and know that they have the "inside track" to re-sign him when he hits free agency next summer, according to Kyler. The Hawks view Smith and Horford as the pillars of the franchise, and plan to use their newfound flexibility to build around them, as Kyler writes.
The HoopsWorld scribe also notes that the Lakers continue to look for upgrades to the end of their bench, and are shopping Devin Ebanks, though there has been little call for his services around the league. Because Ebanks accepted his qualifying offer this summer, he can veto any trade.
Odds & Ends: Mayo, Lakers, Howard, Hornets
While the defending champs can't kick themselves too much over personnel decisions, the Heat might have benefited if Pat Riley had listened to Dwyane Wade back in 2008, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Miami took Michael Beasley No. 2 overall, but Wade pushed for the team to draft guard O.J. Mayo. Other players passed up by Miami include Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook. Here's the latest from around the league..
- The Lakers are on the hook for about $30MM in luxury tax payments this season, but that's almost nothing compared with what they may pay next season, writes Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. If the Lakers re-sign Dwight Howard and keep most of the existing roster together, they'll be looking at a $103MM payroll. If the tax threshold climbs by 5% to $73.8MM, the Lakers would owe approximately $81.5MM in tax.
- The Hornets signed Dominic McGuire today because coach Monty Williams has not been pleased with the play of his small forwards, tweets John Reid of the Times-Picayune. McGuire was released by the Raptors at the end of November to make room for Mickael Pietrus.
- Bulls rookie Marquis Teague is starting to find his groove as he plays with the starting five, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. However, the guard will head back to the bench soon as Kirk Hinrich is getting ready to return to action.
Trade Notes: Gasol, Cavs, Heat
Yesterday was December 15, meaning players who were signed as free agents during the offseason are now eligible to be traded. With just a few months to go before the trade deadline and teams beginning to assess their needs, trade rumors and talks are beginning to heat up. Here are the latest rumblings from around the league on that front:
- Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times doesn't think Pau Gasol and Steve Nash will mesh as the Lakers hoped, and has a few Gasol trade ideas that might benefit the Lakers.
- The Cavs will have a pair of first-round picks in the 2013 draft, and according to Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer, they'd love to add another via trade.
- A trade isn't a priority for the Heat right now, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. If they were looking to make a deal, they would not have a lot of assets.
Atantic Notes: Casey, Teletovic, Meeks
The latest news and notes from around the Atlantic Division on Sunday afternoon:
- Despite rumors that Dwane Casey's job is in jeopardy, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star backs the Raptors coach and notes that perception around the league is generally optimistic about Casey and the team's future.
- Mirza Teletovic was used to being the focal point of his team in Europe, so it's been a challenge for him to adjust to being on the end of the Nets' bench this season, as Newsday's Roderick Boone chronicles.
- Mark Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer talks to Lakers guard Jodie Meeks, who reflects on the 76ers organization where he spent the first three seasons of his career as his new team prepares to play his former one.
- Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Iman Shumpert and Amare Stoudemire are making progress toward returning to the Knicks.
Latest On Andrew Bynum
The Lakers' visit to Philadelphia highlights a four-game Sunday slate in the NBA, and it puts the spotlight back on the most significant trade of 2012, which put Andrew Bynum on the Sixers and Dwight Howard in L.A. Of course, Bynum has yet to make his debut for Philly, and that's made the four-team megadeal difficult to assess so far. On Thursday, Bynum will get an MRI on his knees that will help determine his path to recovery, and as we await those results, here's the latest on the missing 7-footer.
- John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer hears there's no question Bynum will play at some point this season, and argues that the Sixers benefitted from the trade even if Bynum plays only briefly before departing as a free agent this summer. The cap space they'd have if he signs elsewhere would be enough to attract a significant free agent, Mitchell writes, contending that even if they acquired Bynum knowing the severity of his knee issues, the trade was still worthwhile because of the cap flexibility it gives them.
- If Bynum doesn't play this season, the Sixers "most certainly will not sign him," according to Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News, who points to the improvement of Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner as reasons the team can be optimstic about the future.
- Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said the team wasn't concerned about Bynum's history of knee trouble heading into this past offseason, and was prepared to move forward with him until the opportunity to acquire Howard arose. Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News has the details.
Bucher On Jennings, Evans, Varejao, Gasol
With a few exceptions, yesterday was the day free agents signed this offseason became eligible to be included in trades, so rumors will no doubt begin to intensify. Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game shares a few dispatches via Sulia, and we'll round them up here.
- Of the two most prominent names headed for restricted free agency next summer, Brandon Jennings has a better chance of being traded this year than Tyreke Evans. The Bucks are cognizant that several teams are "quietly assessing" Jennings to gauge his worth, though Bucher has been given no indication the team is looking to trade him at the moment.
- The Kings, who'll have the ability to match offers to Evans, are content to sit back and wait for another team to set his value on the market. Sacramento is reluctant to let go of Evans' talent even though it's still unclear what position he plays best.
- Among prominent veteran trade candidates like Pau Gasol, Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon, Anderson Varejao is the only one with a significant chance of being dealt soon. Gasol isn't going anywhere right now because of the promise the Lakers made to Steve Nash that he and Gasol would get to play together.
Lawrence On Horford, Dwight, Thibodeau, Paul
Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News examines the fast starts of the Knicks, Warriors, and Hawks, but believes the script could have been drastically different for Atlanta this season. Here's a roundup of a few rumors he's sharing.
- The Hawks offered up Al Horford as part of a strong push to acquire Dwight Howard in August, according to Lawrence, who notes the Hawks will have enough cap flexibility to pursue the Atlanta native when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
- Tom Thibodeau and Bulls management are waging a "cold war" over the coach's heavy minutes for his starters this season, Lawrence hears. Thibodeau offered his side of the argument to reporters yesterday, as Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago documented.
- Chris Paul, a free agent next summer, had been privately griping about Blake Griffin's play, but has ceased doing so amid an eight-game winning streak for the Clippers, Lawrence writes.
Western Notes: Lakers, Freeland, Blazers, Love
Notes out of the Western Conference..
- Lakers fans are clearly frustrated with how the season has gone so far, but they should be grateful that they have Dwight Howard in the lineup rather than the sidelined Andrew Bynum, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. The Lakers will take on the Bynum-less Sixers on Sunday evening.
- Joel Freeland‘s camp told HoopsHype (via Twitter) that they are unhappy with his assignment to the D-League by the Blazers. Agent Rafa Calvo pointed out that Freeland has been one of the top big men in EuroLeague for three years and doesn’t need the extra time to adjust to the NBA. Despite that, Calvo says he and his client are trying to stay positive about the situation.
- Paul Ladewski of Sheridan Hoops wonders if the T’Wolves have a strong trading partner in the Bulls if they wind up moving Kevin Love. The Timberwolves might have an interest in power forward Nikola Mirotic who is widely considered to be the best player in Europe right now.