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Kennedy On Clippers, Allen, Celtics, Crawford

March 6th, 2012 at 7:37pm CST by Zachary Links

Here's a look at some highlights from tonight's column from Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld..

Over the next week and a half, the Clippers will make a strong push to land a starting shooting guard, according to multiple sources close to the situation. Los Angeles has been in search of a two-guard ever since losing Chauncey Billups for the year. As of right now, Randy Foye and Travis Leslie are the only true shooting guards on the roster and the club has expressed interest in Ray Allen and Jamal Crawford, according to sources.
The Celtics aren’t actively shopping Allen but are listening to offers. It’s unclear what Boston would want in exchange for the 36-year-old, though many teams have expressed interest in him.
Sources say that Crawford will opt-out of the final year of his contract to test free agency this summer and the Trail Blazers may look to move him before the deadline. The Clippers are expressing interest along with the Timberwolves. The Clips tried to sign-and-trade for Crawford over the offseason, but the Hawks didn’t want to take back any contracts.
Other two-guards who could be on the move include the Grizzlies' O.J. Mayo, Courtney Lee of the Rockets, and Anthony Morrow of the Nets. If any of the three guards are made available, the Clippers can be expected to be in the mix. Recently, I broke down the case for New Jersey parting with Morrow.
Sources believe that the Magic will hold onto Dwight Howard past the trade deadline. There are members of the organization who remain optimistic that Howard will re-sign this summer if the right moves are made. The Magic will pursue players like Steve Nash and Monta Ellis before the deadline, but it'll be an uphill battle due to their lack of trade chips outside of Howard.

Five Western Contenders To Watch At The Deadline

March 6th, 2012 at 12:56pm CST by Luke Adams

During this lockout-shortened season, the playoff race in the Western Conference is even more intriguing than usual. Although the Thunder sit comfortably atop the conference standings (their 4.5-game lead over second-place San Antonio is equal to the Spurs' 4.5-game lead over eighth-place Houston), they're not considered the overwhelming favorites to come out of the West. With plenty of basketball to be played and plenty of time for teams to improve their rosters, here are a few Western Conference contenders who could make a splash before the trade deadline:

Thunder: While Oklahoma City hasn't been the subject of many trade rumors in recent weeks, GM Sam Presti has a history of striking unexpected deals. With the Thunder hoping to eventually lock up James Harden and Serge Ibaka to join Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for the years ahead, I can't imagine them agreeing to take on a deal with years left on it. But if the club can find a shooter or offensive-minded big man on a short contract to upgrade its bench, I think they'd be glad to move Daequan Cook and Nazr Mohammed to make it happen. And as Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld pointed out yesterday, if the Thunder are concerned about the health of Thabo Sefolosha, they could explore a deal for a defensive wing player to replace him.
Lakers: Unlike the Thunder, the Lakers have found it impossible to avoid trade chatter, so much so that Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant held a players-only meeting to ensure no one was distracted heading into the second half. But the rumblings are justified — the Lakers hold a valuable $8.9MM trade exception and could be a player or two from becoming legit title contenders again. Point guard and small forward are the Lakers' most glaring needs, with the team eyeing Ramon Sessions, Raymond Felton, Kirk Hinrich, Leandro Barbosa, Michael Beasley and others. I don't expect a blockbuster Pau Gasol trade, but I'd be shocked if the Lakers stood pat. Sending one of their first-rounders to the Cavs for Sessions still makes the most sense to me.
Grizzlies: They expect to get Zach Randolph back in the lineup soon, and have played very well even without their All-Star. The addition of Randolph will likely be the most significant move the Grizzlies make, but they're an intriguing club to keep an eye on just in case. Memphis currently sits slightly above the luxury tax line, and owner Michael Heisley has no desire to be a taxpayer, so the team figures to make a move at some point to get below that threshold. Could that mean moving O.J. Mayo? The fourth-year guard has been the subject of trade rumors for years, and as a potential restricted free agent, his $5.63MM cap figure represents an expiring deal.
Mavericks: Caught between defending their title and preparing to make a run at marquee free agents this summer, the Mavs are trying to win now without compromising their future cap flexibility. While it seems as if they're reluctant to break up the team until after the season, you have to think that if they got an offer they liked for Shawn Marion, they'd take it. I don't expect the Mavs to be major players at the deadline, but it'll be interesting to see how they continue to balance their present and future goals.
Rockets: When Jesse Blanchard of Hoops Rumors assessed the Rockets' stocks, he pointed out that, while the team lacks a star, it also doesn't possess any awful players or contracts. The Rockets have a number of players that could be interesting trade pieces, including reasonably-priced starters like Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, and Samuel Dalembert, and a plethora of expiring deals. I think GM Daryl Morey will make some sort of trade by March 15th, though it remains to be seen whether it'll be a move with an eye toward the coming postseason or the future. Houston would love to get its hands on Pau Gasol, but I don't think that's happening unless they include Kyle Lowry in a package.

Southwest Notes: Grizzlies, Mavericks, Jones

March 2nd, 2012 at 12:43pm CST by Luke Adams

In a piece for HoopsWorld, Jason Fleming examines five teams, debating whether they'd be better off rebuilding or simply retooling. For the Mavericks, Fleming recommends a complete rebuild, but he believes the rival Spurs just need to retool. Here are a few more items out of the Southwest Division:

The Grizzlies may make a trade before March 15th, but don't feel the pressure they have in past seasons to get something done. "We've talked to teams, and we'll continue to talk," GM Chris Wallace told Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "The frequency of these discussions will get ratcheted up over the next two weeks. But I don't have a deal we would do today. I don't feel like we have to do a deal."
Even though the Mavericks are committed to their offseason plans, that doesn't necessarily mean they have to stand pat at the trade deadline, says Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News.
Solomon Jones is hoping to follow in Lance Thomas' footsteps rather than Donald Sloan's, as he tells John Reid of the Times-Picayune. The Hornets signed Thomas for the remainder of the season after giving him a pair of 10-day contracts, but let Sloan go after his second 10-day deal expired.

Kyler’s Latest: Gasol, Mayo, Delfino, Williams

March 2nd, 2012 at 10:15am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this week, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld began exploring trade options for all 30 NBA teams, sharing the latest rumors and rumblings along the way. Kyler discussed ten teams on Tuesday, and looks at ten more today. Here are some highlights from the piece:

The Pacers aren't looking to trade anyone, but would take advantage of their cap space to absorb salary if it meant acquiring a draft pick as well.
Lakers sources insist the team still views Pau Gasol as an All-Star and would only trade him if it meant getting another All-Star back. L.A. isn't currently pursuing Dwight Howard, and any move the team makes will probably involve its $8.9MM trade exception.
If the Grizzlies do anything before the trade deadline, it will likely involve O.J. Mayo, who has drawn interest.
Carlos Delfino is an attractive target for a few teams, but Beno Udrih is the more likely trade candidate to be dealt by the Bucks.
Trade talk surrounding Deron Williams could pick up before March 15th, if the Nets become concerned about their chances of acquiring Dwight Howard and signing Williams long-term.
Trevor Ariza and Jarrett Jack could be had, but the price for most Hornets is an unprotected first-round pick, which seems like a long shot.
The Knicks may consider moving Toney Douglas for a draft pick, in part to clear a roster spot for a player waived after the trade deadline.

Odds & Ends: Timberwolves, Calderon, Kobe

February 27th, 2012 at 10:42pm CST by Luke Adams

With the All-Star Game behind us and regular season games not restarting until tomorrow, a handful of writers today are looking ahead to the season's second half. With the March 15th deadline just 17 days away, the start of the second half figures to be dominated by trade rumors, so Sean Deveney of the Sporting News and Sam Smith of Bulls.com were among the scribes who examined a few big-name trade candidates. Here are a few more links from around the Association as we wait for the second half to get underway:

Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman doesn't believe that there is a solid wing upgrade available on the trade block, tweets Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune (via Twitter).
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey says that there's nothing brewing on the trade front, tweets Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. Casey added that the club has received interest in Jose Calderon but "there's nothing on the table" when it comes to the point guard (Twitter link).
The Grizzlies recalled rookie Josh Selby from the D-League, according to the Commercial Appeal's Twitter feed. The former Kansas Jayhawk was assigned to the Reno Bighorns earlier this month in order to see more playing time.
Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez told reporters this weekend that Kobe Bryant was thinking about retirement before undergoing platelet-rich plasma treatment in the offseason, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times.
Michael Lee of the Washington Post wonders which of the Wizards' young players are part of the team's long-term plans. Spoiler alert: Andray Blatche isn't mentioned. In a separate piece, Lee previews the summer for Nick Young and JaVale McGee, who are both in contract years.
Point guard may not be a major offseason priority for the Heat if they can win a title with Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole manning the position, says Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Doug Smith of the Toronto Star handicaps the odds of a few Raptors trade candidates being moved before the deadline.
Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley has been eliminated from the list of prospective bidders for the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
The 2015 All-Star game will likely be in New York, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Sam Smith on Bulls, Jackson, Mayo

February 24th, 2012 at 9:42pm CST by Chuck Myron

The basketball Hall of Fame awarded veteran Chicago beat writer Sam Smith its Curt Gowdy Media Award, along with longtime Blazers broadcaster Bill Schonely. The Hall also announced Bulls legend Chet Walker and ABA great Mel Daniels will be inducted this fall, reports Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Reggie Miller, Maurice Cheeks, Bernard King, Ralph Sampson, Jamaal Wilkes and coaches Rick Pitino, Don Nelson, Dick Motta and Bill Fitch are finalists for induction who'll find out during college basketball's Final Four whether they'll be going in at the induction ceremony September 7th.

Fresh off the honor, Smith opened up his NBA.com mailbag and dropped a few bits of knowledge:

Derrick Rose probably wouldn't want the Bulls to acquire Pau Gasol. Smith believes the idea that Rose gave his blessing to such a trade is way off-base.
Carlos Boozer, who isn't likely to be traded and won't be amnestied anytime soon, will be in a Bulls uniform for a while, Smith says.
Even though Stephen Jackson isn't getting much run in Milwaukee, the Bucks are unlikely to buy him out.
Smith doesn't expect to see Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo, who was nearly traded to Indiana at the deadline last season, in any deals this year.
The Bulls are "thrilled" with coach Tom Thibodeau and want to keep him long-term, even though they have yet to pick up the option on his contract.

Odds & Ends: Bryant, Cap, Allen

February 18th, 2012 at 4:17pm CST by Chuck Myron

Today's matinee between the Clippers and Spurs, two of the top teams in the Western Conference, highlights a light NBA schedule. Here's what's up around the league:

Pau Gasol is averaging a career-low 16.6 PPG, and Kobe Bryant believes trade talk is one reason for the uncharacteristic performance, as Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times notes.
HoopsWorld's Jason Fleming has a rundown on the available cap space for each team. He notes the Grizzlies, who stand just over the tax line, could get under by making a deal before the March 15th trading deadline. The Kings, meanwhile, must either take on salary to get up to 85% of the cap or distribute that money to their existing players. Fleming has the Pacers in the same boat as the Kings, but James Posey's amnestied $7.6MM salary pushes them above the 85% line.
Salary cap guru Larry Coon sees J.R. Smith declining his $2.5MM option for next season and heading to another team with more money available. Smith already took the more lucrative option on the table this week when he picked the Knicks for this season over the Clippers. (Twitter links)
Coon tweets the Clippers may covet Ray Allen, one of the Celtics cornerstones GM Danny Ainge may be willing to trade, but doubts L.A. has enough assets to get a deal done.
We examined Tyson Chandler's impact as a free-agent signing earlier today. Justin Kubatko of The New York Times takes a closer look at the Knicks center playing in the shadow of Jeremy Lin.
Fellow Times writer Benjamin Hoffman looks at Brandan Wright, who is one of the centers charged with replacing Chandler in Dallas. The scant $1MM investment is paying off for the Mavs, Hoffman writes.
Mark Cuban and James Dolan are owners who like to spend money and meddle with their teams, but the similarities end there, writes Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, who believes the Knicks' Dolan should try to further emulate his Dallas counterpart.
Omri Casspi's numbers are down since the Cavs acquired him via trade last summer, yet Casspi and coach Byron Scott aren't too concerned, notes Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer. Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio tweets that the team feels it got the better of the deal, which sent J.J. Hickson to the Kings for Casspi and a first-round pick.

Franchise Notes: Europe, Hawks, Anaheim, Kings

February 9th, 2012 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

From the possibility of international expansion to an NBA owner making a bid for an MLB team, here are a few updates on the futures of the league and a few franchises:

Commissioner David Stern said the idea of NBA teams in Europe has been discussed, but it's not realistic for the near future: "It’s not the schedule and the traveling which is the problem. It’s the arenas, the ownership, the television arrangements, the pricing structure and the fan avidity. And it doesn’t pay to take anything for granted. It’s a nice thought. But basketball is not going to vend in Europe quite yet. It’s just growing. And it’s growing slowly but it’s growing nevertheless" (HoopsWorld link).
Stern added that would-be buyers have interest in the Hawks, but Atlanta's ownership group isn't currently entertaining the idea. The Hawks are "well down" on the league's list of worries, according to Stern.
Anaheim's Honda Center announced that its multi-million dollar renovation project is underway. As Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles wrote last summer, Anaheim hopes the renovations help attract an NBA team to the home of the NHL's Ducks.
At one point, the Kings looked Anaheim-bound, and their situation is still tenuous. Tom Couzens of the Sacramento Bee says the Maloofs "are speaking volumes by saying nothing" about financial contribution toward the city's new arena.
Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley is leading one of the groups bidding on the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Up against ten other suitors, Heisley's bid is "solid but a long shot," says Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Odds & Ends: Billups, Alston, Prince, Mavs

February 8th, 2012 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

On this day seven years ago, Smush Parker was waived by the Suns, and it looked like his NBA career may be nearing an end. Parker bounced back though, signing with the Lakers and starting nearly every game for Los Angeles in 2005/06 and '06/07. Parker has been out of the NBA since 2008, but he's still playing professional basketball, having signed today with Venezuelan team Guaros de Lara (hat tip to Sportando). Here are a few more of today's odds and ends…

Following his season-ending achilles injury, Chauncey Billups told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times that he'd like to return to the Clippers next season to take care of "unfinished business."
Rafer Alston, who recently signed with the NBA's D-League, spoke to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv about his comeback attempt. Alston on the possibility of playing for his hometown Knicks: "If it happens, trust me, I’ll be like a kid in a candy story. I’ll feel like I won the lottery if I get an chance to play at home."
Tayshaun Prince has no regrets about signing a long-term deal to stay with the Pistons, says Terry Foster of the Detroit News.
Don't expect the Grizzlies to sign or trade for anyone in the next few weeks, says Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, noting that the team still needs to get below the tax line.
Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News would be surprised to see the Mavericks make a move at the trade deadline, but says they'll have plenty of money to spend this summer.
Greg Stiemsma, whose contract was guaranteed yesterday by the Celtics, has taken an unusual road to Boston, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel explains the Heat's decisions on players with non-guaranteed contracts.

Decisions On Non-Guaranteed Contracts

February 7th, 2012 at 10:24pm CST by Luke Adams

February 10th marks the day that all players on non-guaranteed contracts will have their deals guaranteed for the remainder of the season. However, if a team wants to meet that Friday deadline, it will need to make its decisions today, allowing its player(s) to pass through waivers in time.

Some non-guaranteed players, such as DeJuan Blair and Jeremy Lin, are in no danger of being waived. However, with a few dozen players on non-guaranteed deals across the league, there will be plenty of cuts before the day is out. Some of those players will sign 10-day contracts shortly after being cut, while others could join the D-League or find a place on our list of current unrestricted free agents.

We'll track all the day's decisions on non-guaranteed contracts right here, with the latest news up top:

Other players who will have their contracts guaranteed for the remainder of the year: Ivan Johnson, Jannero Pargo, Jerry Stackhouse (Hawks), Cory Higgins (Bobcats), Brian Scalabrine, John Lucas (Bulls), Samardo Samuels, Alonzo Gee (Cavaliers), Sean Williams (Mavericks), Julyan Stone (Nuggets), Vernon Macklin, Damien Wilkins (Pistons), Dominic McGuire, Chris Wright (Warriors), Sundiata Gaines, Keith Bogans (Nets), Steve Novak, Jerome Jordan (Knicks), Ryan Reid (Thunder), DeAndre Liggins (Magic), Lavoy Allen, Francisco Elson (Sixers), Danny Green, Gary Neal (Spurs), Jeremy Evans (Jazz).
The Jazz will guarantee Jamaal Tinsley's contract, according to Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune (via Twitter).
The Pistons are keeping guard Walker Russell, agent Giovanni Funicello told HoopsHype (via Twitter).
The Hornets have waived DaJuan Summers and Carldell Johnson, league sources tell Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
The Rockets waived Jeff Adrien, reports Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The move clears a roster spot for Greg Smith.
The Wizards have waived Hamady N'Diaye, according to a team release.
Chris Johnson received a call from Trail Blazers GM Chad Buchanan this morning saying his contract would be guaranteed, tweets Mike Tokito of The Oregonian.
The Celtics will hang on to Greg Stiemsma and guarantee his deal, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
The Lakers have waived Derrick Caracter. Caracter broke the news himself, tweeting "It's over before it begun!!! …. On to the next chapter of my life" (Twitter links). The Lakers will hang on to Devin Ebanks, Andrew Goudelock, and Darius Morris, tweets Mike Breshnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
The Clippers have cut Solomon Jones, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).
The Heat have waived Mickell Gladness, the team announced (Twitter link). Miami's other two players on non-guaranteed deals, Eddy Curry and Terrel Harris, look safe, tweets Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The Grizzlies have waived Josh Davis, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The Spurs announced they've waived Malcolm Thomas, who was assigned to the team's D-League affiliate last week.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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