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Hornets Notes: Carroll, Gordon

November 16th, 2012 at 7:17pm CST by Sean Highkin

Friday morning, the New Orleans Hornets announced that they have signed GM Dell Demps to a three-year contract extension. Demps commented to the media on a few issues surrounding the team, as reported by Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune:

The team is still working on a buyout with guard Matt Carroll, acquired earlier in the week from the Bobcats in exchange for Hakim Warrick. Demps gave no timeframe for an agreement being completed, and said Carroll is not violating any rules by having not reported to the team yet.
Demps was noncommittal when asked about a timetable for Eric Gordon's return. While he said Gordon was working towards a return, he did not have any further details to give on his injury or the nature of the recovery process.

Hornets Sign Dell Demps To Extension

November 16th, 2012 at 4:29pm CST by Luke Adams

4:29pm: Demps' extension is for three years with a team option on the fourth year, a source tells Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.

9:44am: The Hornets have extended the contract of general manager Dell Demps, locking him up to a multiyear deal, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed.

"Dell has a bright future ahead as the GM of our team and Mr. [Tom] Benson and I couldn’t be more impressed with the track this team is on and are excited about the future," said Hornets executive VP Mickey Loomis in the release. "He has helped shape this organization with the current team of young, talented players and we look forward to seeing the growth of the franchise during this exciting time for the franchise."

There was some question when Benson took over as the Hornets' owner whether he'd move forward long-term with Monty Williams as head coach and Demps as GM. However, Williams received a contract extension of his own in August, so it seems the new ownership group has liked what it's seen from both men. Both Williams' and Demps' contracts would have expired in 2013 if they had not been extended.

Since Demps was hired by the Hornets in July of 2010, he has orchestrated a number of major moves for the team, including last December's Chris Paul trade. He is the 18th longest-tenured head of basketball operations in the NBA.

Stein On Gasol, Hawks, Smith, Frank, Harden

November 16th, 2012 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

Leading off his Weekend Dime piece at ESPN.com, Marc Stein follows up on yesterday's tweet about the possibility of the Hornets and Matt Carroll reaching a buyout agreement. According to Stein, New Orleans "immediately commenced" buyout talks with Carroll upon acquiring him, meaning the ex-Bobcat should be on the open market soon. Here are the other highlights from Stein's Weekend Dime:

While some pundits, including Grantland's Bill Simmons, continue to speculate about the Lakers trading Pau Gasol to the Hawks, Atlanta has no interest in sending Josh Smith to Los Angeles in a deal for Gasol, says Stein. The Hawks have "not been in enticed in the least" by the prospect of moving Smith, and are telling interested teams that they value the 26-year-old highly.
Atlanta's stance doesn't mean that the Lakers haven't spoken internally about the possibility of making a run at Smith, adds Stein. But it looks like an unlikely fit unless another team or two gets involved.
Even if the Pistons hadn't snapped a winless streak that saw them open the season 0-8, head coach Lawrence Frank likely wouldn't have been in immediate danger, according to Stein. Detroit views this season as a developmental one for its young core, and player development is considered one of Frank's strengths.
Stein also passes along details on the final year of James Harden's max contract, via Mark Deeks of ShamSports. As we heard earlier this week, that fifth year is only 50% guaranteed. However, it would become fully guaranteed if Harden makes even one All-Star team from 2013/14 to 2016/17. There are other conditions related to personal statistical benchmarks and the Rockets' postseason performance that would also guarantee that final year for Harden. You can check out the complete details at ShamSports.

Hornets, Carroll Working On Buyout?

November 15th, 2012 at 10:19pm CST by Ryan Raroque

10:19pm: According to John Reid of NOLA.com, the Hornets will neither confirm nor deny that they've engaged in buyout talks with Carroll's camp. However, the team still intends to give an update on his status by tomorrow morning.

7:26pm: ESPN's Marc Stein tweets that Matt Carroll could be working on a buyout with the Hornets after the team acquired him from the Bobcats early this week, adding that the 6'6 guard could be a possible free agent shooter worth considering for the Lakers. Now in his tenth year in the league, Carroll owns career averages of 6.6 PPG, 38.1% from three-point range, and 84.1% from the free throw line.

Earlier today, we heard that Carroll had not yet reported to New Orleans but that Carroll's agent had been in touch with Hornets GM Dell Demps.

Odds & Ends: Dixon, Carroll, D’Antoni, Wade

November 15th, 2012 at 5:03pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Of the 17 players that competed during the 2002 NCAA title game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Indiana Hoosiers, three would go on to become first round picks during that year's NBA Draft: Chris Wilcox (eighth overall), Jared Jeffries (11th), and the championship game's leading scorer, Juan Dixon (17th). Today, while Wilcox and Jeffries have guaranteed contracts, Dixon finds himself on the outside looking in, tirelessly determined to make a comeback. Connor Letourneau of The Diamondback uncovers how Dixon's trying experiences as an international player contributed to his maturation process and what a return to the NBA would mean for the 34-year-old guard.

You'll find the rest of this evening's miscellaneous notes from around the league below:

Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com thinks that the chances of the Kings remaining in Sacramento after this season (and possibly several more) continue to increase because of little movement in talks of going anywhere else. Without much momentum between the Maloofs and the potential destinations that have been mentioned (Anaheim, Seattle, Virginia Beach) nor anything that indicates a possibility that the team will be sold, Howard-Cooper writes that it bides more time for the city to find a way to keep the Kings for now.
Eurohoops.net tweets that Panathinaikos of Greece has signed Jason Kapono.
John Reid of NOLA.com reports that Matt Carroll has not yet reported to the Hornets since Tuesday's trade involving Hakim Warrick going to the Bobcats. Head coach Monty Williams says that there have been ongoing discussions between Carroll's agent and GM Dell Demps but did not elaborate on the specifics. The team hopes to give an update on the situation tomorrow.
Yahoo's Marc J. Spears relayed a quote from today's press conference in which Mike D'Antoni said he'd like to get the Lakers to play "Showtime basketball."Arash Markazi of ESPN LA tweets that D'Antoni's coaching debut will likely be on Sunday against the Rockets.
Nagging injuries have become a cause for uncertainty and concern for Heat superstar Dwyane Wade, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Dan Bickley of AZCentral sports says (via Twitter) that Charles Barkley would be interested in becoming the Suns GM if owner Robert Sarver were to make such an opportunity available in the near future.
The Raptors officially posted an injury update on their team website regarding Alan Anderson, Landry Fields, and Kyle Lowry. Anderson will remain out for another three to six weeks and Lowry for one to two weeks, according to the press release. There is no timetable set in place for Fields' return.

Bobcats, Hornets Swap Carroll For Warrick

November 13th, 2012 at 3:10pm CST by Luke Adams

3:10pm: The Bobcats have officially acquired Warrick in exchange for Carroll, confirms B.J. Evans, the team's vice president of communications (Twitter link).

With Carroll not part of the Bobcats' rotation, president Rod Higgins viewed the move as a no-risk opportunity to upgrade the club's frontcourt depth, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).

3:02pm: There is a trade "in the works" between the Bobcats and Hornets, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Stein reports (via Twitter) that the two sides are negotiating a swap involving Matt Carroll and Hakim Warrick, though it's not clear if a deal is imminent or just being discussed.

Both Carroll and Warrick are playing on similar expiring contracts, with Carroll earning $3.5MM in the final year of his deal, while Warrick is earning $4MM for the Hornets. Warrick also has a team option for next season, but it's not believed to include any guaranteed money, and almost certainly won't be picked up. Either way, New Orleans would be saving a little salary in the event of a deal.

A change of scenery could be beneficial for both players, who aren't seeing much playing time this season. After appearing in 53 contests for the Bobcats last season, Carroll has played just six minutes in one game this season. Warrick, meanwhile, saw seven minutes of action in his lone game for the Hornets last week.

Warrick has already been part of one trade this year, having been included by the Suns in the Hornets' sign-and-trade deal for Robin Lopez back in July.

Odds & Ends: D’Antoni, Bynum, Raptors, Banks

November 12th, 2012 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's round up a few of Monday's odds and ends from around the Association….

Carmelo Anthony told reporters, including Marc Berman of the New York Post, that he's happy for Mike D'Antoni and that he and the former Knicks coach had a "good relationship."
Brian Musburger, the agent for Phil Jackson, said he and his client were indeed "stunned" by the Lakers' hiring of D'Antoni: "Not so much with the decision the Lakers made, because Phil had no hold on the job. But we are stunned with the way Phil learned of it" (Sulia link via Kevin Ding of the O.C. Register).
Following up on the Sixers' latest update on Andrew Bynum, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal (Sulia link) points to Bynum's health as one reason why the Cavaliers didn't get far in trade negotiations for the big man this past summer.
In his Morning Tip piece at NBA.com, TNT's David Aldridge discusses the Lakers' coaching hire, Keyon Dooling's decision to retire, and Mickey Loomis' role with the Hornets.
DeMar DeRozan is hoping to help turn the Raptors into a team that will be attractive to players in free agency, as he tells Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.
NBA veteran Marcus Banks, who last played for the Raptors in 2010/11, has agreed to terms with Panathinaikos, according to a report passed along by Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

Western Notes: Dwight, Kobe, Kings, Crowder

November 10th, 2012 at 4:10pm CST by Chuck Myron

Dwight Howard told Sam Amick of USA Today last night that he thinks Phil Jackson, rumored to be close to taking over as Lakers coach, will be "great for me," and said he's anxious for the team to resolve the upheaval surrounding the head coaching position. "Yeah, because a lot of stuff that happened last year — I really had nothing to do with it, but it came out like it was me," he said. "So now when it comes out or if somebody says something about me, I'm going to stand up say, 'Hey, this is not going to happen again.' I'm just going to play. I don't want to get caught up in it." There's plenty more this afternoon on the Lakers and their Western Conference rivals, as we detail here.

Kobe Bryant, who's backing Jackson's possible return, feels he has unfinished business to accomplish under the Zen Master's tutelage, writes J.A. Adande of ESPN.com.
In the wake of a report by Bruce Rader of WAVY-TV that it was Kings co-owner George Maloof who met with the Virginia governor, the mayor of Virginia Beach and officials from Comcast-Spectator last week, Tom Ziller of Sactown Royalty takes the Maloofs to task for denying the meeting took place.
Defense and surprising three-point shooting are reasons why Jae Crowder, the 34th overall pick this past June, has made a sizable impact early this season for the Mavericks, as HoopsWorld's Alex Raskin observes.
Offseason signees Ryan Anderson, Brian Roberts and Roger Mason have teamed with incumbent Jason Smith to form a potent bench for the Hornets, notes Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune.
Blazers coach Terry Stotts, once an interim coach of the Hawks, weighs in on the challenges the next Lakers coach will face in taking over the team in the middle of the season, as Mike Tokito of The Oregonian examines.

Injury Updates: Wall, Billups, Gordon

November 7th, 2012 at 9:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

We don't normally report on injuries at Hoops Rumors, but when a star player goes down for a lengthy absence or the injury otherwise figures to have an impact on a team's personnel decisions, we pass along that news. Tonight we have a few updates on key figures who'll be out for a while.

Wizards point guard John Wall was supposed to miss around eight weeks with an injury to his left patella, but now Wall says there's no target date for his return, reports Michael Lee of The Washington Post.
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro was hopeful last month that Chauncey Billups could return from his torn left Achilles tendon sometime in November, but Billups doesn't think he'll recover quite so quickly, saying on ESPN's NBA Countdown this evening that he hopes to be back about a month from now, as Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles writes.
The Hornets confirmed Eric Gordon's four-to-six-week prognosis, and announced that he'll head to Los Angeles for "more personalized and intensive" rehabilitation on his troublesome right knee. John Reid of The Times-Picayune has details.

Odds & Ends: Bledsoe, Paul, McDyess, Pacers

November 4th, 2012 at 12:59pm CST by Chuck Myron

HoopsWorld's Eric Pincus examines the depth of the Clippers, and says that the team has received numerous inquiries about reserve point guard Eric Bledsoe. The Clippers won't consider moving Bledsoe until they sign Chris Paul to a long-term contract, Pincus hears, adding that most executives expect Paul, an unrestricted free agent next summer, to stay with the team. There's plenty of other news from around the Association on the first weekend of the regular season, so let's dive right in.

We heard yesterday that Antonio McDyess is considering a comeback, but he has no interest in joining the Wolves, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News.
In his third season, Lance Stephenson is finally making an impact for the Pacers as he receives minutes for the injured Danny Granger, writes Mark Montieth of Pacers.com. Montieth adds that Granger, who's out indefinitely, could face surgery on his sore left knee.
Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com examines the options for the Warriors in the wake of Brandon Rush's season-ending injury, and mentions Mickael Pietrus, Maurice Evans, Josh Howard and Kenyon Martin as "free agent names arising" in case the team goes looking for a replacement.
C.J. Watson drew interest from other teams that could have offered more money, but he decided to sign with the Nets on a minimum-salary deal instead, notes Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post.
Jeff Teague is using the Hawks' decision not to extend his rookie-scale contract this week as motivation, but he isn't upset with the team, the point guard tells Lang Greene of HoopsWorld.
In the same piece, Greene also checks in with Rockets swingman Daequan Cook, who's looking to prove his worth as a teammate after his inclusion in the James Harden trade caught him off guard.
Neil Olshey took the Blazers' offer to become GM after owner Paul Allen put it on the table with the condition that Olshey was not to give the Clippers a chance to match, writes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times.
Trey Johnson, who spent 11 games with the Hornets last year, was close to signing with Angelico Biella, but it appears the deal is falling apart, Sportando's Emiliano Carchia reports.