Lakers Notes: Marshall, Kobe, Carmelo
This afternoon, the Lakers travel east to take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. While neither team has set the world on fire this season, all eyes will be on Carmelo Anthony following his 62-point performance against the Bobcats. Here’s a look at the latest from Los Angeles as the defensively-challenged Lakers look to avoid a repeat of Friday night..
- Kendall Marshall is making the most of his shot with the Lakers, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “It’s been good. I’ve enjoyed it and tried to make the most of [my opportunity],” said the 22-year-old. “When that chance does come about, you have to be ready to help the team in any way possible. It was really tough [the last year] but I lean on the people really close to me — my sisters, my parents, my close friends — that know what I can do. That support system has been great for me throughout the process.” It’s a small sample size, but the UNC product is leading the league in assists and three-point shooting.
- Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News wonders if Anthony and Kobe Bryant could ever co-exist with each other. Lakers forward Wesley Johnson, who shares an agent with Kobe and an alma mater with Melo, thinks they would get along just fine.
- Kobe told reporters, including Medina (Twitter link) that he’ll happily answer any questions Carmelo has about free agency and the Lakers but will also give him space.
NYC Notes: Carmelo, Bulls, Nets, Teletovic
As the Knicks and Lakers prepare to meet this afternoon much anticipation surrounds Carmelo Anthony‘s response to his 62-point performance Friday night. Having broken Kobe Bryant‘s Madison Square Garden point record, this matchup would have brought much more hype had Bryant been able to defend his recently broken record. Instead, Kobe sits at the end of the bench recovering from a knee injury. Bryant’s visit will not be all for naught as Marc Berman of the New York Post suspects he will spend this trip recruiting Anthony to sign with Los Angeles next summer. Berman can’t imagine Anthony having much interest in the Lakers while head coach Mike D’Antoni is still at the helm considering their differences lost D’Antoni his job in New York but “the Lakers have cap space and the Clippers and the Bulls — at the moment — don’t.”
Time will tell how effective a sales pitch Kobe makes today. In the meantime, some other notes around the Big Apple.
- As we pointed out yesterday, the Bulls are gaining traction as a destination spot for Carmelo this summer and are “much more in play than L.A.”. However, Chicago Tribune reporter K.C. Johnson cautions against those rumors as he believes Anthony in a Bulls jersey is an “extreme long shot”. Johnson points to the fact the Bulls could amnesty Carlos Boozer and still not be anywhere near the cap space needed to give Anthony the maximum contract he will be seeking. According to Johnson, the Bulls would have to also trade away either Taj Gibson or Mike Dunleavy and still hope Anthony will take a discount in order to join a coach and point guard he admires. Johnson does point out that a sign-and-trade involving Boozer and the Knicks could be more likely.
- Speaking of those Anthony-to-Bulls rumors, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times claims the Bulls aren’t letting those rumors distract them. Head coach Tom Thibodeau told Cowley “[the Bulls have] gotten used to [the media’s rumors].” Cowley adds that he doesn’t believe Anthony heading to the Bulls is impossible but “the Bulls would have to be willing to go back over the luxury-tax threshold they just escaped.” They would also have to amnesty Boozer, as Cowley reiterates.
- Turning our attention five miles south, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban relayed to Dwain Price of the Star-Telgram that he “had no doubts Jason Kidd would eventually get the Brooklyn Nets turned around.” Cuban has maintained his “great relationship” with his former point guard and believes Kidd’s close relationship with Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle “is paying dividends for the Nets right now.” Cuban believes Carlisle to be “one of the two or three best (coaches) in the game at in-game adjustments and play-calling, and I’m sure (Kidd) picked up more than a few pointers when he played for Rick.”
- Observing the Nets after beating Cuban’s Mavericks on Friday to improve to 9-1 of late, Beckley Mason of The New York Times believes the Nets have transformed since the beginning of this season, allowing them to exceed previous limitations. Mason attributes the Nets unique lineups, increase in defensive intensity, and ability for any player on the roster to take over each night as reasons for the sudden change in Brooklyn.
- Evidence of the ability of any Net to take over on a given night, Mirza Teletovic is “making the most of his chance,” as Lenn Robbins of BrooklynNets.com reports, after Teletovic scored a career-high 34 points against the Mavericks. Teletovic credits the Nets’ abundance of shooters as the reason “the guy from Europe [was left] open,” but Deron Williams believes Teletovic is “a competitor… making the most of [the opportunity].”
Latest On Carmelo Anthony
As many know by now, last night was a record breaking evening for Carmelo Anthony. Anthony’s 62 point performance was not only a career-high but also eclipsed three different NBA marks. ‘Melo broke Kevin Durant‘s season high for points after three quarters with 56 points, Hall of Famer Bernard King‘s record for most points in a game as a Knick, and Kobe Bryant‘s record for most points in Madison Square Garden. With Anthony’s on-court performance grabbing attention from everyone around the NBA, Anthony’s off-court free agent decision this upcoming summer has also gained attention.
A few notes on Carmelo’s free agency:
- Bernard King “knew one day Carmelo would break [his scoring] record” notes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Carmelo’s childhood idol is “delighted it happened” and hopes last night’s performance will convince Anthony to re-sign with the Knicks this summer. King disclaimed any inside information to Anthony’s decision next summer but thinks that Anthony will stay in New York next season. King cites Anthony’s desire to win championships as the reason he will realize New York is the best place in the NBA to make that dream a reality.
- Providing his own take on King’s interview, Ian Begley of ESPN quotes King as asking “Where else [would Carmelo] go?” According to King, Anthony has relished his time in New York. Combining that with the love Knicks fans have for Anthony, King can’t think of any other NBA team that could offer a similar situation.
- Chris Herring of the Wall Street Journal thinks by not making a “proactive step”, the Knicks are making the job of keeping Carmelo more difficult than it needs to be. Herring gives his opinion as to what the Knicks should do to convince the player they gave up a pick from next year’s draft and a third of their roster for, to remain a Knick next season. According to Herring, the Knicks should first give head coach Mike Woodson a deep performance analysis now that many of their key players have returned from injury to determine if he remains the coach of their future. If the Knicks do retain Woodson’s services, Herring thinks the Knicks should then require Woodson to change his coaching habits, primarily his defensive schemes. Lastly, Herring believes the Knicks, who have “cycled through a league-high 77 players in the past five seasons,” should make a roster change to prevent Carmelo from leaving. Players that Herring suggests the Knicks should consider moving include Raymond Felton, Tyson Chandler, and Iman Shumpert, although he warns of the mixed signals each of those moves could send to Carmelo.
East Notes: Beasley, Heat, Oden, Tyler
Let’s face it: the voting process for All-Star starters isn’t exactly a meritocracy. Fortunately, the selections for All-Star reserves are based more on on-court accomplishments. The staff at Basketball Insiders ran down their All-Star picks for both conferences and here’s how the East bench looks: John Wall, DeMar DeRozan, Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert, Chris Bosh, Lance Stephenson, and Paul Millsap. Today’s linkage out of the East..
- With offseason pickup Michael Beasley somewhat on the downswing and fellow newcomer Greg Oden only now beginning his comeback, it could be argued that the only true bench consistency has come from Chris Andersen, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
- Oden is likely to remain as a situational player for the foreseeable future, writes Winderman. A reader asks Winderman if a return to being a rotation player would mark the biggest comeback in NBA history and he says no, rightfully citing the returns of Andersen and Roy Tarpley from substance abuse issues.
- He was obviously overshadowed by Carmelo Anthony‘s 62-point performance, but the recently acquired Jeremy Tyler made some tremendous plays in last night’s win over the Bobcats, writes Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside. The Knicks plucked Tyler out of the D-League to be a physical rebounder and pestering defender, but his improved offensive skillset is a pleasant surprise.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Melo, Nets
Carmelo Anthony‘s 62-point performance against the Bobcats last night sure was something to behold, right? Well, not if you’re former Knicks center turned Charlotte assistant coach Patrick Ewing. “I’m upset right now because we just lost,” Ewing told reporters, including Marc Berman of the New York Post. “I’m not talking. I have no comment on what happened.’’ He did offer some praise for ‘Melo, but when questions persisted about Anthony, Ewing got impatient, saying, “Man, I’m done.’,’ Man, it’s the morning, so we’re just getting started. Here’s a look at the Atlantic Division..
- With free agency looming, Anthony reminded everyone, and maybe even himself, why he came to New York, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Despite what could be a lost season for the Knicks, the star has been surprisingly reserved about lodging public complaints about the team.
- “Chicago is much more in play for [Anthony] than L.A.,” a source told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports in reference to the Knicks‘ star. The Bulls traded Luol Deng for draft picks and are leaning strongly toward using the amnesty provision on Carlos Boozer. They have the ability to create a maximum contract slot for Anthony, pairing him with Derrick Rose.
- Nets veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are ready to return to Boston for the first time since the blockbuster deal, writes Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe.
Poll: Should Knicks Trade Carmelo Anthony?
It would be an understatement to say the Knicks season hasn’t gone according to plan thus far. The team sits at 16-27, which is good for third place in the weak Atlantic Division. They are also currently tied for tenth in the conference with Cleveland, and two games behind the Bobcats for the eighth and final playoff spot. Even if the Knicks have a second half surge up the standings, they would be looking at a probable first-round matchup with either the Heat or the Pacers. The Knicks chances of advancing past the opening round would appear slim, given the depth and talent of those two opponents.
So the Knicks are at a crossroads, one that is vital to the team’s long-term outlook. It was only a short time ago that the Knicks traded for Carmelo Anthony. Here was the star player that they craved so badly, and even more important, he wanted to be a Knick. The Knicks had missed out on LeBron James after clearing the dead weight from their salary cap to make a run at him, and ended up with Amar’e Stoudemire instead. That rejection definitely stung the organization. So the team tore up its roster in order to make the trade with the Nuggets. After last year’s 54-28 record, with the team, and Melo, making it past the first-round of the playoffs, big things were expected this season. But the loss of some key veteran players in the offseason, a slew of injuries, and many players not meeting expectations, has Carmelo re-evaluating if he wants to remain with the team long-term.
Anthony can opt out of his deal at the end of this season and become an unrestricted free agent. It is a given that he will do so, but what isn’t so sure anymore is him re-signing with the Knicks. They own his Bird Rights, and can offer him the most money in a new deal. But many experts believe that Melo is tired of the losing, and will seek a better situation for himself. Coach Mike Woodson disagrees with that assessment, and stated, “Melo I think is on board. I know he’s on board…He’s going to be there to the bitter end if it’s a bitter end. But right now he’s going to be there. I trust he’s going to stay there. we got to make sure everybody else is on board.” Woodson though, might not be the most reliable source, as he’s been rumored to have lost the locker room, and is firmly on the hot seat as far as his job security goes.
Anthony isn’t the reason for the Knicks woes, as he’s having a very solid season. He’s currently averaging 26.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and adding 3.1 APG to those numbers. His slash line is .438/.412/.847. He’s also logging 39.2 MPG, and not receiving much help from the rest of the roster. He also just broke Bernard King‘s team single-game scoring record, dropping 62 on the Bobcats tonight. This total also eclipsed Kobe Bryant for the Madison Square Garden scoring record, which was previously 61.
So the big question is: Should the Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony? If he leaves after the season, the team gets nothing in return. This would not only set the franchise back in terms of on-court talent. It would also make the trade for him seem like a terrible deal in retrospect. The other factor to consider is if Anthony is worth re-signing to what is sure to be a max contract. He turns 30 this May, and has quite a bit of mileage on him. He’s never proven that he’s capable of leading a team on his own to a title, and the Knicks would be paying max dollars for his declining years. Re-signing Anthony would severely limit the other moves the team could make, and possibly prevent them from acquiring the pieces he would need around him to win. He wants to play with another star or two, and his salary would make it difficult for the team to accommodate that wish.
So the Knicks could decide to cut their losses and try to jump start their rebuilding process. That could be easier said than done, however. The first obstacle they will face will be finding a team that can take on his $21,388,953 salary. The Knicks would have to take back a large contract or two to make the trade work. They could trade for an expiring contract, but unless the deal was sweetened with a young player they could add to their core, or they receive a first-round draft pick, they wouldn’t gain anything by trading him. Teams may balk at that price for a player who could end up a half-season rental.
The second major issue would be finding a team that Melo would be willing to re-sign with. The Clippers, Lakers, and Bulls might fit that need. There were rumors about the Clippers having internal discussions about trading Blake Griffin for Melo, but the team dismissed them as false. The Clippers might not want to disrupt their roster in the middle of the season. They also might figure they could try and sign Anthony after the season, and not have to surrender any assets now. The Lakers don’t have much to offer outside Pau Gasol‘s expiring contract, and the Bulls could offer Carlos Boozer and another player. Neither of those last two scenarios would improve the Knicks fortunes.
It’s time for you to play general manager. After examining the situation, what would you do? Would you hold out hope that Melo will stay, either because the Knicks can offer the largest contract, or out of loyalty? Or would you try and find a taker, and hope that you could get something useful for your star? Vote below, and feel free to comment on why you made that particular choice.
Should the Knicks Trade Melo?
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Yes 70% (941)
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No 30% (398)
Total votes: 1,339
Poll: Will Knicks Keep Woodson After 2013/14?
Since the 1946/47 season, the Knicks have topped the 50-win mark 13 times. Last year, Mike Woodson led New York to 54 wins, joining Jeff Van Gundy, Pat Riley, Rick Pitino, and Red Holzman as the only five head coaches in Knicks history to accomplish such a feat. The 2013/14 season offers nothing but a stark contrast in comparison to last season’s success, as Woodson’s club stands 15-27 and would have to go 35 and 5 over the remaining 40 games in order to reach 50 wins again.
Earlier in December, after a nine-game losing streak sent the Knicks to a 3-13 record over the first 16 games, Carmelo Anthony publicly admitted that he, along with a few other teammates, became worried about Woodson’s job security (Ian Begley of ESPN New York):
“Yeah, we’re worried about (Woodson’s job). But then again, we’ve got to worry about playing basketball…We can’t worry about the speculation that’s going on outside this building and we shouldn’t…And as a leader of this team, I’ll try my best not to allow that.”
Although a 6-1 record over the new year’s first seven games briefly brought the Knicks into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, the team’s recent five-game losing streak erased most, if not all of that momentum. It’s also worth noting that Anthony and co-captain Tyson Chandler publicly made comments about lack of adjustments and being “out-schemed” respectively in recent losses to the Pacers and Nets (Marc Berman of the New York Post). Though Chandler would later insist that his comments weren’t a knock on Woodson, Anthony told Ian Begley of ESPN New York: “…whatever’s happening is going to happen and it’s out of my hands and it will get dealt with.”
Whether or not those comments allude to Woodson’s job security can be left to interpretation, though it doesn’t seem that the team’s current situation is any better than it was when Anthony had been worried about the Knicks head coach in early December. With the possibility that the Knicks star exercises an early termination option this summer, it can’t be too far-fetched to wonder if New York would consider severing ties with Woodson if it meant helping their chances at retaining Anthony, especially if the Knicks missed the playoffs or suffered an embarrassing playoff exit. What are your thoughts? At this rate, do you think Mike Woodson will be retained beyond this season?
Will The Knicks Keep Mike Woodson Beyond 2013/14?
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No 79% (555)
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It depends on how they finish the season. 17% (122)
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Yes 4% (26)
Total votes: 703
Odds & Ends: Butler, Woodson, LeBron
Last week, Caron Butler seemed to vent a little frustration about his role in Milwaukee after he was removed from the starting lineup recently in favor of giving more minutes to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, telling reporters:
“The information I received before coming here is that ‘You’re going to play a lot…And I want to play. I want to be out there to help the situation.”
Since then, Butler appears to have changed tune and reiterated that he wants to stay in Milwaukee, personally taking team owner Herb Kohl aside to let him know how much he values being a part of the Bucks organization:
“I had a moment with Sen. Kohl after the game because I really wanted to talk to him and express to him how excited I am to be here…I want to be here in Milwaukee and I want to be part of the process…This is home to me. I want to help these guys develop” (Gery Woelfel of JournalTimes.com). Woelfel adds that Butler also held similar discussions with GM John Hammond and head coach Larry Drew, whom Butler reportedly has a “healthy rapport with.”
Here’s more from around the Association tonight:
- Despite a disastrous season and questions of Carmelo Anthony‘s long-term future in New York as the Knicks continue to struggle, head coach Mike Woodson doesn’t think Anthony would request a trade by the February deadline: “Melo I think is on board. I know he’s on board…He’s going to be there to the bitter end if it’s a bitter end. But right now he’s going to be there. I trust he’s going to stay there. we got to make sure everybody else is on board’’ (Marc Berman of the New York Post).
- Heat superstar LeBron James thinks it’s too early to say whether or not he’ll play when Team USA participates in the 2016 Olympics: “I don’t know where I stand for 2016…Obviously, if I’m healthy in 2016 that summer, if I can get to leading our country by playing, then that would be great to be a part of that…But I can’t commit to it right now” (Charlie McCarthy of FOX Sports Florida).
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks the Bulls may be better off without Luol Deng and explains why the reverse isn’t necessarily true. Cowley thinks Deng would prioritize a shot at a title rather than playing tutor on a young Cavaliers team, and that head coach Mike Brown has already shown signs of not knowing how to use the 28-year-old forward.
- Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press thinks of Dwight Howard‘s snub from starting the All-Star game this year as proof of how much damage he’s done to his reputation over the last few years and that there’s rebuilding to be done (Twitter link).
- According to Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee, the Kings have finalized a deal to buy Downtown Plaza from JMA, a San Francisco-based firm that had purchased the mall back in 2012. The Kings and the city of Sacramento plan to use the site to construct a new $448MM arena.
Beno Udrih Backs Off Trade Request
4:11pm: The Knicks feel the presence of Udrih may take playing time away from Toure’ Murry, and they wouldn’t mind receiving a second-round pick if they were to make a trade, Berman writes.
1:47pm: Udrih says he “wants to be here” and that his “first option” is to remain with the Knicks, Berman tweets, so it appears the point guard’s issues with Woodson and concerns about playing time aren’t too severe.
THURSDAY, 9:25am: Udrih isn’t applying undue pressure on the Knicks, and it’s not a foregone conclusion that he’ll be dealt, a source tells Marc Berman of the New York Post. Udrih’s agent, Marc Cornstein, was to set to speak with Knicks GM Steve Mills prior to last night’s game.
MONDAY, 7:58pm: Beno Udrih has asked for a trade from the Knicks, according to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley. The Knicks will attempt to honor the request, according to league sources. While the impetus for the request hasn’t been revealed, the backup point guard has had publicized issues with coach Mike Woodson in his first year with the team. The veteran has been disappointed in a lack of minutes alongside starting point guard Raymond Felton, a rotation he says was pitched to him as a free agent.
The twelfth-year veteran is averaging 19.9 MPG, his lowest total since the 2011/12 season, and his current PER of 12.7 is below his career average of 14.0. The cap hit for Udrih’s one-year contract is $884,293. It is unclear if there are any teams that would be in the market for a backup rotational guard like Udrih, and his small price tag would limit what kind of salary the Knicks could take back in return since they are already over the cap.
The Knicks have already generated a lot of buzz regarding their pursuit of another point guard in the wake of the team’s struggles and early injuries to Felton and Pablo Prigioni. Those pursuits have stalled–most notably the deal for Kyle Lowry that owner James Dolan reportedly nixed–but adding another guard would likely be a necessity if they are able to honor Udrih’s request to move on.
Team USA Names Finalists For 2014-16 Rosters
9:51am: LeBron James and Chris Paul will also sit out this summer, Colangelo told media in a teleconference today, though they remain in the mix for 2016.
8:36am: Carmelo Anthony says he’s certain he won’t play in the World Cup this summer, but he left open the idea that he’d play in the 2016 Olympics, reports Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.
8:03am: USA Basketball has officially announced the selection of 28 players who’ll compete for a spot on the squad that will play this summer in the 2014 World Cup of basketball, the event formerly known as the World Championships. Those on the list are also vying for selection to the 2016 Olympic team, though USA Basketball may still make additions to the list.
“This is the first step of building the USA Basketball National Team pool of players for 2014-16. This roster is extremely talented, deep and versatile,” said Jerry Colangelo, the executive director of USA Basketball. “We are very fortunate to have 11 of the 12 members who won gold at the London Olympics wanting to be part of the national team program again. To receive that kind of commitment is remarkable and it demonstrates how much it means to our players to represent USA Basketball and their country.”
The Warriors lead the way, with four players who’ll get a look from Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff. Here’s the complete list:
- LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers
- Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
- Bradley Beal, Wizards
- Tyson Chandler, Knicks
- DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
- Stephen Curry, Warriors
- Anthony Davis, Pelicans
- Andre Drummond, Pistons
- Kevin Durant, Thunder
- Kenneth Faried, Nuggets
- Paul George, Pacers
- Blake Griffin, Clippers
- James Harden, Rockets
- Gordon Hayward, Jazz
- Dwight Howard, Rockets
- Andre Iguodala, Warriors
- Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers
- LeBron James, Heat
- Kyle Korver, Hawks
- David Lee, Warriors
- Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
- Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
- Kevin Love, Timberwolves
- Chris Paul, Clippers
- Derrick Rose, Bulls
- Klay Thompson, Warriors
- Russell Westbrook, Thunder
- Deron Williams, Nets