Odds & Ends: Heat, Thornton, Gordon, Gasol, Lin
With 10 games on the schedule for Sunday, let's take a quick look around the league to see what's happening:
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel responds to a reader's question wondering if the Heat are setting themselves up for NBA Finals failure by not beefing up their post play. Winderman points to LeBron James as a player who could utilize his unique size to provide the Heat with an option to slow down the game in fourth quarter by getting the ball in the paint.
- Former Warriors forward Al Thornton has signed to play with Puerto Rico's Brujos de Guayama according to Sportando. The former Seminoles star averaged 7.4 PPG and 3.0 RPG during the 2010/2011 season with time split between Golden State and Washington.
- The Hornets are playing a waiting game with injured guard Eric Gordon, writes John Reid of The Times-Picayune. The former Indiana star was acquired prior to the start of the season in the Chris Paul blockbuster but has only played in two games thus far. He'll become a restricted free agent this summer with the Hornets holding hope that they can re-sign him for a manageable price.
- Brian Kamenetzky of ESPN.com says it's been an unique season for Pau Gasol as he awaits his fate amidst trade rumors that he'll be moved prior to the trade deadline. Kamenetzky concedes his affection for the Barcelona native but would trade him to the Nets in exchange for Deron Williams in a heartbeat.
- According to Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter), Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is currently searching for Jeremy Lin's 2010 Mavericks summer league jersey so he can sell it on eBay. No word yet on the reserve price.
Stein On Kaman, Andersen, Jennings, Smith
In this week's installment of his Weekend Dime, ESPN.com's Marc Stein names his picks for the NBA's first-half awards. LeBron James and Chris Paul highlight the list as the East and West MVPs, respectively, while Jeremy Lin makes an appearance as the league's Most Improved Player.
After making his choices for the pre-All-Star awards, Stein also shares a few notes on the trade market, so let's round up the highlights:
- Chris Kaman is a "near lock" to be dealt by March 15th. This isn't good news for the Heat, who were hoping to pursue Kaman if the Hornets bought out his contract after the trade deadline, but it's not a surprise — Kaman has some value and it sounds like there are teams with interest.
- Chris Andersen has received increased minutes lately with Nene Hilario and Timofey Mozgov out of action, but the Nuggets are open to dealing the Birdman. Any potential trade partner would have to take on the two years and $9MM+ that will still remain on Andersen's contract after this season.
- Brandon Jennings' comments last week about eventually exploring his free agent options haven't altered the Bucks' perception of him as a franchise cornerstone. According to Stein, Jennings' comments "struck many observers as an ill-conceived frustration rant" after the Bucks guard wasn't named to the Eastern All-Stars.
- While J.R. Smith will receive the full amount the Knicks have left on their mini mid-level exception (approximately $2.38MM), his 2011/12 NBA earnings will only work out to about $1.92MM due to the lockout pro-ration.
Inquiries Picking Up On Chris Kaman
Since re-inserting Chris Kaman into their lineup, the Hornets have received increased inquiries on the 7'0" center, reports John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. New Orleans is seeking young talent and expiring contracts in exchange for Kaman, says Reid.
After keeping Kaman off the court while fielding trade offers, the team decided earlier this month to temporarily end trade talks and bring him back to the club. The 29-year-old has made the most of what's essentially a showcase for potential suitors, averaging 18 points, 11 boards, and 1.8 blocks in the four games he's played sinced rejoining the Hornets. Though he was sidelined briefly with an ankle injury, Kaman bounced back in a big way, posting double-doubles in the Hornets' last two contests (both wins).
Earlier today, we heard about Miami's interest in Kaman, but the Heat don't match up well with New Orleans, and haven't even contacted the Hornets about Kaman, according to Reid. The Heat would likely only have a shot at Kaman if the Hornets held onto the big man, then bought him out of his contract later in the season. The Pacers and Rockets, who have plenty of cap space and expiring contracts, respectively, are among the more realistic suitors.
Hornets Re-Sign Lance Thomas
The Hornets have re-signed Lance Thomas to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today in a release. New Orleans initially signed Thomas when the 10-day contract period began last Monday.
Thomas, 23, made his NBA debut with the Hornets earlier this season, appearing briefly in two games. He saw more frequent action during his last week and a half in New Orleans, averaging 2.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 8.8 MPG in five contests.
NBA teams are permitted to sign players to two 10-day contracts during the season. If the Hornets want to retain Thomas when his second 10-day deal expires, they'll need to sign him for the remainder of the season. For more information on 10-day contracts, check out our primer.
Heat Interested In Chris Kaman
The Heat are interested in adding Chris Kaman to their roster, but they'll likely have to overcome a few obstacles to do it. Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida reports that Heat officials have been calling people close to Kaman to ask about him, and are hoping to sign the big man if the Hornets buy out his contract.
Kaman, 29, was acquired by the Hornets in the Chris Paul trade, and was held out of the team's lineup for some time while New Orleans tried to move him. Although Kaman is playing again, he could likely be had in the right deal, with the Pacers and Rockets said to be among the interested teams.
The Heat don't have the trade chips to be a real contender for Kaman before the March 15th trade deadline, so the team's only realistic chance at him is via a buyout. As both Tomasson and Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel point out, it seems unlikely that the league-owned Hornets would allow the deadline to pass without dealing Kaman, buy him out, and allow the Heat to sign him in a move that would solidify Miami's title hopes.
Besides that significant roadblock, getting Kaman to the Heat would also involve him agreeing to the veteran's minimum with Miami and giving up his Bird rights, which could affect his next contract. As much as the Heat would like to see Kaman bring his talents to South Beach, it looks like a long shot at this point.
Hornets Sign Solomon Jones To 10-Day Contract
The Hornets have officially signed Solomon Jones to a 10-day contract, the team announced today.
Jones was cut by the Clippers last week before the team had to guarantee his contract for the season. Coming into the year, the 27-year-old had averaged 10.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per 36 minutes in his career, though in ten games with the Clips his averages were down to 2.3 and 6.4 respectively. The Hornets will be the fourth NBA team for the 6'10" South Florida product, who was drafted by the Hawks and also spent time with the Pacers.
HoopsHype first reported (via Twitter) that the Hornets would sign Jones to a 10-day contract.
Hornets Notes: Buyers, Gordon, Johnson
Yesterday, we heard that the Hornets will sign Solomon Jones to a 10-day contract and that Eric Gordon underwent successful knee surgery. Today brings more news on the Hornets, so let's round it up right here….
- David Stern has reduced the list of potential buyers for the Hornets from about seven to two or three, writes J. Michael Falgoust of USA Today. The commissioner is optimistic about completing a sale by month's end.
- Following Gordon's surgery, coach Monty Williams said reports suggesting the 23-year-old doesn't want to play for the Hornets are "way off base," according to the Associated Press (via ESPN). Williams added that Gordon is "a big part of what we want to do and where we're going."
- The Hornets are making a mistake by not being more forthcoming with the team's fans, says John DeShazier of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
- Italian team Novipiu Casale is eyeing Trey Johnson, according to a Sportando report. Johnson signed with Novipiu Casale but didn't play with the club due to an injury. Johnson returned to the NBA in December, appearing in 11 games with the Hornets before being waived late in January.
Trade Exceptions Due To Expire Next Week
In certain NBA trade scenarios, a team can acquire a traded player exception, which is worth a specific amount of money and can be used at any time over the next year. These trade exceptions allow teams to acquire one or more players without sending any salary back. However, if a team has obtained multiple trade exceptions, it can't combine them to acquire a more expensive player.
For more details on how trade exceptions can be obtained, check out our glossary of salary cap exceptions and Larry Coon's CBA FAQ, but here's a practical example:
When the Mavericks worked out a sign-and-trade deal to send Tyson Chandler to the Knicks prior to the season, the Mavs acquired a traded player exception worth about $13.11MM — Chandler's 2011/12 cap figure. The Mavs used most of that exception to absorb Lamar Odom's salary in a trade with the Lakers, who in turn received a trade exception worth Odom's $8.9MM cap figure. Now, the Mavs have about $4.21MM of their exception remaining, while the Lakers have yet to use their $8.9MM exception.
A number of trade exceptions were obtained leading up to last season's February 24th trade deadline, and are set to expire within the next ten days. Teams aren't obligated to use their exceptions — the amounts of some exceptions aren't substantial enough to be useful, and most will simply expire quietly. But they're worth keeping an eye on over the next week and a half.
Here's the complete list of trade exceptions due to expire by next Friday:
Feb. 22nd
- Nuggets: $4,640,536 (Carmelo Anthony), $1,675,000 (Renaldo Balkman), $854,389 (Shelden Williams)
Feb. 23rd
- Hawks: $1,042,320 (Jordan Crawford)
- Hornets: $762,195 (Marcus Thornton)
- Jazz: $1,815,873 (Deron Williams)
Feb. 24th
- Bobcats: $1,486,330 (Gerald Wallace)
- Celtics: $473,604 (Semih Erden), $473,604 (Luke Harangody)
Storytellers Contracts was used in the creation of this list.
Hornets Notes: Kaman, Gordon, Sale
Led by Chris Kaman's 27-point, 13-rebound showing last night, the Hornets topped the Jazz 86-80 for their first win in February and just their third victory of 2012. As the Hornets head to Milwaukee hoping to continue their winning ways Wednesday against the Bucks, let's check out some New Orleans notes…
- Kaman, who sat out the Hornets' last game with an ankle sprain, likely impressed potential suitors with his performance vs. the Jazz. His 27 points and six offensive rebounds were easily season highs. Kaman talked to reporters after the game about pushing himself to play through the injury (New Orleans Times-Picayune link).
- Eric Gordon underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his knee today, the team announced. With Gordon set to miss another six weeks, the Hornets' decision not to extend him last month looks a little sounder. Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star speculates (via Twitter) that Gordon's injury issues could temper the Pacers' interest when the 23-year-old becomes a restricted free agent this summer.
- The list of potential buyers for the Hornets has been "whittled from a half-dozen or so," reports Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune. Hornets chairman Jac Sperling spoke positively about the team's current roster and its future: "They play hard every night…. You look at that, plus three, four, five players any given night who could be playing but aren’t. You add that with a couple of (2012) draft choices, you add that with a new owner coming in next year and I’m really optimistic about what this team could be like if we were at full strength with two new draft choices and a new owner."
Odds & Ends: Bobcats, Kaman, Lin
D.J. White, whom the Bobcats acquired from the Thunder nearly a year ago, isn't seeing much playing time, and that's because of a glut of power forwards, tweets Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. If the Bobcats are overloaded with quality players, it isn't showing up in their record, now 3-25 after a loss to the Sixers tonight. Justin Kubatko of The New York Times examines the ineptitude of the team and deems it a black mark on owner Michael Jordan's reputation. Sixers coach Doug Collins, who coached Jordan with the Bulls and Wizards, wonders how the ultra-competitive Jordan can take it, as Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports.
More notes from around the NBA on Monday night:
- Pistons center Ben Wallace, 37, is not reconsidering his decision to retire after this season, notes Eric Lacy of the Detroit News.
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is upset with the NBA over the Chris Paul trade this year, believing the league-owned Hornets would have been better off having Paul leave via free agency, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas.
- Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area tweets that Hornets center Chris Kaman could be a trade target of the Warriors.
- Warriors GM Larry Riley is one of the many who underestimated Jeremy Lin, predicting he would be a backup at best, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
- Lin is having a tangible effect on the financial value of his team. Shares of the Madison Square Garden Company, which owns the Knicks, the arena and the TV network that shows the team's games locally, have hit a record high, Ken Belson of The New York Times reports.
- Ben Uzoh, recently signed to a 10-day contract, is impressing Cavs coach Byron Scott, writes Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.
- Jerry Reinsdorf's son Michael has been taking a more active role with the Bulls lately, but don't assume that means he'll eventually succeed his father as owner, writes Melissa Isaacson of ESPN Chicago.
- The Heat took a flyer on Eddy Curry before the season, and so far he has contributed little. Still, his slow progress doesn't disturb coach Erik Spoelstra, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.