And-Ones: Lottery, Jeter, Nash
With teams starting to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, more and more focus will be given to the talk about franchises “tanking” for a better lottery pick. Commissioner Adam Silver has denied that teams are losing on purpose, but that hasn’t quieted the chatter. There has been some talk of changing how the league determines draft order to combat this, but Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post doesn’t think the current system needs to be altered. Dempsey cites the fact that the team with the worst overall record rarely gets the top pick. In fact, since the lottery system began in 1985 only four teams have secured the first-overall pick, and none since 2004 when the Magic won the lottery and selected Dwight Howard. Dempsey also opines that losing now to try to secure a brighter future is a smart move, not one to be condemned.
More from around the league:
- Andrew Wiggins has reclaimed the top spot in the latest Draft Express rankings.
- Pooh Jeter said he is drawing interest from NBA teams for a possible 10-day contract in an interview with Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype.
- T.J. Simers of the Orange County Register analyzes the Lakers contract situation with Steve Nash in the wake of the player’s admission he will return in 2014/15 just because he wants to collect his salary. Nash is set to collect $9.7MM in the final year of his deal.
D-League Notes: Larkin, Mekel, Reed, Rice
Here’s a quick look at the latest news and notes out of the NBA D-League on Saturday afternoon:
- The Mavericks have recalled Shane Larkin from his D-League assignment, the team announced today in a press release. Gal Mekel will be sent down to take Larkin’s place on the Mavs’ D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. It was a quick stint for Larkin, who appeared in just one D-League game after being sent down yesterday afternoon.
- The Sixers have assigned Arnett Moultrie to join the Delaware 87ers of the D-League, the team announced this afternoon. This confirms a report we heard last night speculating that Philly would make such a move.
- Willie Reed is working hard to put up big numbers in the D-League and hoping to catch an NBA club’s attention, writes Scott Rafferty of Ridiculous Upside. Reed was able to sign on with Memphis last April, but he never saw any action and was waived prior to the start of the 2013/14 season.
- J. Michael of CSNWashington.com examines Glen Rice Jr.‘s latest trip to the D-League and concludes Rice needs to focus on improving his shooting stroke. Through nine games for the Iowa Energy, Rice has averaged 18.9 points per contest, but he’s shooting just 44% from the floor and 30% from beyond the arc. The Wizards opted send Rice on a minor league assignment after the club inked a deal with Drew Gooden.
And-Ones: Harden, Collins, Daye, Williams
In a series of tweets, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders says there was more to the Thunder‘s decision to trade James Harden before last season than money concerns. Coming off their Finals loss, Harden wanted an increased role on the team, believing himself to be the superstar talent we now know he is. Kyler says Harden wanted to stay, but the Thunder didn’t want to change their roster dynamics to accommodate his wishes. Here’s more from around the league:
- Jason Collins is happy stay with the Nets for the rest of the season, he tells Roderick Boone of Newsday. “Thank you to the Nets organization, coaches and players,” Collins said.“Our team is playing really well right now and I’m glad to continue to be here.”
- The Spurs have assigned Austin Daye to their D-League affiliate per a team release.
- After showing promise in some extended playing time with the Raptors, Ed Davis has struggled to see many minutes with the Grizzlies, writes Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun. The lack of playing time has come because of a crowded frontcourt in Memphis, not a lack of skill on Davis’s part, says coach Dave Joerger. “It’s tough and he’s a similar style to the guys that are at that position,” said Joerger. “What his athleticism is, is a different look for us. But it’s tough with Marc [Gasol] and Zach [Randolph] in front of him.”
- Derrick Williams has been debated as a “true” small forward or power forward since coming into the league, but Kings coach Michael Malone tells Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee that Williams’ versatility is a good thing. “You go back to his days at Arizona, when he was the No. 2 pick, he played a lot of four (power forward),” Malone said. “I see in the NBA if a bigger guy is guarding him, he can take that guy out on the perimeter. If you play him at the small forward, you can post him up some. He’s got that versatility and athleticism that is very attractive. The league is getting a lot smaller it seems, and I think Derrick’s versatility is a real advantage when you play him at the four.” If small forward Rudy Gay picks up his $19.3MM player option in Sacramento for next season, Williams will likely have to establish his ability to thrive at the power forward spot.
Texas Notes: Parker, Larkin, Carmelo
At the start of every game, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle‘s gameplan is rather simple: get the rock to Dirk Nowitzki. “We want to get him touching the ball early in the game in every game,” Carlisle said, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “If it doesn’t happen, I blame myself for it. We want to play a flowing, random type game as often as we can because we feel it’s a strength, but the ball has to move through the best players. When it doesn’t, I have to intervene and make play calls to get him involved touching it, to get Monta involved touching it, things like that. But we’re at our best when we’re playing a free-flowing game without play calls with good recognition.” More out of the Lone Star State..
- In an update to his earlier report, Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter) now hears that only Shane Larkin and Ricky Ledo are headed to the D-League, not Gal Mekel. To keep up with all of this year’s D-League assignments, check out our running list.
- In an era of tumult and turnover, the Spurs‘ Big Three of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili has managed to stay together, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. The Spurs are humble about what they’ve accomplished over the years, but fans should stop and admire what they’ve done, even if the team won’t.
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Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (on Twitter) wonders if Carmelo Anthony would ditch New York for Houston and if the Rockets would give up Terrence Jones or a future first round pick to pull it off. A report yesterday linked the Knicks star to Dwight Howard & Co. Sean Deveney of the Sporting News explains why it’s a long shot from a financial standpoint.
Kings Notes: White, Thomas, Gay
Last night, the Kings announced that they recalled forward Royce White from their D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns. White, signed by the Kings to a 10-day contract on March 6, immediately reported to the Bighorns and averaged 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.50 steals, and 24.8 minutes per game in four games. More out of Sacramento..
- Kings guard Isaiah Thomas tells Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops that the biggest reason for his development has been coach Michael Malone’s trust in him, especially after starter Greivis Vasquez was dealt to Toronto in the Rudy Gay trade. “He’s given me an opportunity to lead this team and kind of just play my game,” Thomas explained. “I always tell people the NBA, I think, is a game of opportunity. Once your opportunity comes, you’ve got to take it and run with it. My opportunity is here and I’m trying to do the best I can to not look back.” One Eastern Conference GM sees Thomas getting between $4-5MM per year on the open market while a scout sees the full mid-level exception as his maximum.
- Thomas is learning to lead as he approaches restricted free agency, writes Andrew Perna of RealGM.
- In a Q&A on the Kings’ website, GM Pete D’Alessandro spoke about Gay’s future and says that he looks forward to talking with Thomas’ camp about a new deal.
Western Notes: Lakers, Faried, Butler, Ledo
After Kobe Bryant‘s news conference on Wednesday, the Lakers may have to abandon any strategy not aimed at an immediate turnaround, writes Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. Pincus has an intricate plan in mind for the purple-and-gold that entails trading their 2014 first rounder for Kevin Love, waiving Steve Nash, re-signing Pau Gasol and much more, all designed at arming the aging Bryant with running mates capable of staging one last run at a title.
Let’s take a look at what is going on elsewhere in the Western Conference:
- Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried is happy that the trade speculation is behind him, writes Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Faried is having an impressive March, scoring 21.1 points per game and grabbing 10.1 rebounds on 64.5% shooting from the field. Teammate Ty Lawson also believes that the trade talk was hurting his play somewhat, noting that he has been more aggressive since the trade deadline came and went.
- Thunder trainer Joe Sharpe had a lot to do with Caron Butler‘s decision to sign with Oklahoma City this season, Jeff Caplan of NBA.com writes. Sharpe held a similar position at UConn when Butler was there.
- While we pointed out a pair of D-League success stories earlier tonight, Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram opines (via Twitter) that Ricky Ledo may have become a high lottery pick with the proper collegiate seasoning. Ledo, who has bounced between the Mavericks and the Texas Legends in his rookie season, attended Providence College though he never played for the Friars. He was selected 43rd overall by the Bucks last June.
And-Ones: Embiid, Union, White, Hairston
With only three games on the docket on Thursday evening, let’s begin to sort through all that is going on around the Association tonight:
- Sean Deveney of the Sporting News asked executives about Joel Embiid’s back injury and what it will do to his stock come draft time. “Obviously he has a ton of talent and he is as promising a big man as you can imagine,” one GM said. “But the back is going to be a question mark, and every team is going to want their doctors to look at whatever information there is now, and whatever comes out of the medical testing at the combine.“
- In a piece for ESPN.com, agent Jeff Schwartz opined that the process for the union’s executive director search must change. In his view, there has been a lack of transparency in the search since day one and he notes that even though there are said to be two finalists for the position, the union has yet to publicly acknowledge them.
- Royce White‘s stint with the Reno Bighorns was “a positive experience” for both White and the club, despite him not posting impressive numbers there, a source tells Gino Pilato of D-League Digest (on Twitter).
- While P.J. Hairston concedes it has been an adjustment, you can count him among the D-League advocates as well, writes SI.com’s Chris Mannix. The former Tar Heel, banished from North Carolina in December, hit the ground running with the Texas Legends and has all the makings of a first round pick this June.
Southwest Rumors: Miller, Harris, D-League
Here’s the latest out of the Southwest Division..
- Grizzlies swingman Mike Miller will be a free agent at season’s end, but he calls the experience of playing with Marc Gasol “an absolute pleasure,” just as he found it was playing with brother and fellow soon-to-be free agent Pau Gasol. Bleacher Report’s Jared Zwerling has more from Miller, who expresses his affection for the Heat, a team he can’t sign with until 2015/16 under the terms of last season’s amnesty waiver.
- Mavericks guard Devin Harris, making the minimum salary, is looking like one of the best values in the league right now, writes ESPNDallas.com’s Tim MacMahon. Factoring in finances, production, and impact for a probable playoff team, D.J. Augustin of the Bulls is the only backup point guard who could make a strong case for being a better value, MacMahon opines. Harris is averaging 8.0 points and 4.0 assists in 18.6 minutes per game while serving as the Mavs’ best backcourt defender.
- The Pelicans and Grizzlies are seeking one-to-one D-League affiliates for next season, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Kyler reiterates an earlier report that the Magic are looking for the same.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Manny Harris To Play In Turkey
Former Lakers and Cavs shooting guard Manny Harris is leaving the Lakers D-League affiliate to play in Turkey with Turk Telekom Ankara, reports Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The deal likely means the 24-year-old who scored 19 points in his final game with the Lakers last month will spend the rest of the season overseas.
Harris was with the Lakers on a pair of 10-day contracts this year, and he spent parts of 2010/11 and 2011/12 with Cleveland. The former Michigan Wolverine has averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 17.6 assists per contest over his NBA career, which spans 89 games.
It’s the second straight year the Henry Thomas client will spend time in international ball, having played in Ukraine last season. The Turkish team is no doubt giving him a raise on his salary in the D-League, where he had a strong performance this year, pouring in 31.6 PPG and grabbing 7.9 RPG for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Cavs Sign Shane Edwards, Release Onuaku
The Cavs have signed D-League forward Shane Edwards to a 10-day contract, the team announced. To make room, Cleveland terminated its 10-day pact with Arinze Onuaku before it was set to expire at the end of Thursday. Onuaku immediately becomes a free agent, since players on 10-day contracts don’t have to go through the waiver process if their teams decide to let them go early. The Cavs remain at the 15-player maximum.
The 6’7″ Edwards went undrafted out of Arkansas-Little Rock in 2009, but he joined the Nuggets for preseason a year later. He didn’t make Denver’s opening-night roster, and he hadn’t signed another NBA deal since, until today. The 26-year-old is averaging 13.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game across 40 appearances this season for the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s D-League affiliate.
Onuaku signed a pair of 10-day deals with the Cavs, but he saw a total of just five minutes over two games. He seemed mostly an insurance policy for Anderson Varejao, who returned to action early this week against the Knicks. Cleveland twice sent him on D-League assignment.