Atlantic Rumors: Knicks, C’s, Bradley, Sixers
Things went from bad to worse for the Knicks tonight, as Pablo Prigioni left the game with an injury before Bradley Beal‘s game-winner dropped New York to 7-17 on the season. The team announced (via Twitter) that Prigioni suffered a hairline fracture of his toe, which won’t require surgery, but will sideline him for the next couple weeks. According to coach Mike Woodson (Twitter link via Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv), the Knicks could call up Chris Smith from the D-League or play Iman Shumpert at the point, but it’s fair to wonder if another injury and another loss could prompt the club to acquire Kyle Lowry or another point guard.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division on Monday night:
- Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) hears the Rockets like Jeff Green in a possible Omer Asik trade, but the Celtics are still an unlikely partner. Chris Mannix of SI.com adds (via Twitter) that there’s no traction to any Asik/Green talks between the two sides.
- According to Mannix (via Twitter), several NBA execs have pegged Avery Bradley for a deal in the four-year, $30MM range next summer.
- There’s nothing imminent on the trade front for either the Sixers or Celtics at the moment, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link) and Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald respectively.
Knicks Still Expected To Re-Sign Jeremy Tyler
Tyson Chandler may make his long-awaited return on Wednesday night in Milwaukee, but Chandler isn’t the only big man expected to don a Knicks uniform again soon. New York will also likely re-add Jeremy Tyler, who is playing for the team’s D-League affiliate in Erie, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post. However, according to Berman, the team has put that signing on hold until its trade situation clears up.
Tyler, 22, was in camp with the Knicks but sustained a stress fracture and was subsequently waived so he didn’t take up a regular season roster spot. Nonetheless, New York made sure to acquire his D-League rights for the Erie Bayhawks, and are said to be “closely monitoring” his progress with the club. So far, Tyler has appeared in three games, and while his averages (17.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG) are solid, he hasn’t been overly efficient (.413 FG%, 4.3 TO).
In order to sign Tyler, the Knicks would have to clear a roster spot, either by making a trade or releasing a player. The team has been connected to Kyle Lowry, and would likely send out more players than it received in any deal for the Raptors’ point guard, which could create an opening for Tyler. Otherwise, the club would likely have to release Toure’ Murry, Cole Aldrich, or Chris Smith to sign Tyler. Murry and Aldrich are on non-guaranteed contracts, while Smith has yet to see any NBA playing time.
Eastern Notes: Celtics, Thibodeau, Knicks
If the Celtics trade for Omer Asik and get Rajon Rondo back they’ll probably win the Atlantic while still in their rebuilding process, opines Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (on Twitter). Yesterday, Marc Stein of ESPN.com cautioned that the C’s are a team to watch in the Asik sweepstakes. More out of the East..
- It would be foolish of the Bulls to entertain parting ways with coach Tom Thibodeau, writes Shams Charania of RealGM. For his part, the defensive wizard reiterated his desire to stay in Chicago. “I got a great job here, I got a team that I love, and all I think about is our team,” Thibodeau said. “I look forward to this challenge.”
- “[J.R. Smith] would have a market if playing well and showing he is healthy,’’ one NBA general manager told Marc Berman of the New York Post. The Knicks aren’t allowed to trade the troubled guard before January 15th.
- It was recently reported that the Lakers are weighing whether to propose a swap of Pau Gasol for Knicks big man Tyson Chandler and Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com looked at the pros and cons from New York’s perspective.
- Bucks owner Herb Kohl announced that he’s seeking additional investors to create an ownership group committed to keeping his club in Milwaukee, writes Rich Kirchen of The Business Journal. Kohl has retained the services of Allen & Co., the same New York City firm that he had in 2003 when he ultimately decided to spurn an offer to sell the Bucks to Michael Jordan.
- Commissioner David Stern issued a statement in support of Kohl and his bid to get a new arena for the Bucks and keep them in Milwaukee (via Eric PIncus of the Los Angeles Times on Sulia).
- Without a new arena, the Bucks are a prime target for the city of Seattle as they look to replace their Sonics, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Knicks, Lowry, Dolan
First-year Sixers head coach Brett Brown is enjoying his job but has few wins to show for it, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “There are only a handful of times – a very, very tiny handful of times – where you feel embarrassed,” Brown said. “By and large our team has played a style of play and played with an aggression that I’m proud of.” More from the Atlantic..
- The Knicks are still in play for Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, but they still won’t surrender a first-round pick to get him, tweets Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. The Knicks can’t trade a first round selection that comes up earlier than 2018.
- With strong play from Pablo Prigioni, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com wonders if the Knicks need Lowry at all.
- Interference from owner James Dolan may hurt the Knicks badly, writes Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News. Dolan canned highly respected GM Glen Grunwald before the season in favor of Steve Mills, a GM who isn’t eager to make trades because he doesn’t want to put his job on the line, according to Lawrence.
- With all the talk of Knicks star Carmelo Anthony going elsewhere, you can count Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim amongst those who hopes he stays put, Adam Zagoria of SNY writes. “I think he came to New York, he likes New York, he wanted to be in New York,” Boeheim said. “I think that every player now is looking for the best place to win. Players aren’t looking for money or security. Elite players now are looking for, ‘Where can I win, where can I be in a winning championship-type team.’“
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Smith, Knicks, MWP
The 7-17 Sixers are only 3.5 games out of first place in the Atlantic Division, but Tom Moore of The Intelligencer says they should pump the brakes. After all, he argues, the Sixers won’t be able to do much of anything in the playoffs against the likes of the Heat. Improving their draft position, however, could set them up nicely for years to come. More from the Atlantic..
- Knicks guard J.R. Smith was criticized by coach Mike Woodson for his poor shot selection in last week’s game against the Bulls and the guard responded by taking just one shot in 27 minutes against the Celtics, writes Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. “Mike said that after all I’ve done for you I can’t have you talking back to me like that,” the source claimed. The same source added that Smith made a lewd comment that angered Woodson.
- Anthony Reiber of Newsday sat down with Knicks veteran Metta World Peace for a wide-ranging interview in which he said that he wouldn’t be hurt if he was traded from New York just months into his time there.
- The Raptors are winning without Rudy Gay and playing more like a team, but coach Dwane Casey told reporters, including Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, that it isn’t a case of addition by subtraction. “It has nothing to do with Rudy whatsoever. I think just the pieces fit more from that respect. It has nothing to do with Rudy personally. Rudy’s a talented player, he’s a big-time wing player. Just the fit is a different thing. If you were on a different team that needed a wing, you’d definitely have Rudy Gay on your team,” (via these Twitter links).
- First-year Nets forward Mirza Teletovic is playing well but without a real open spot in the rotation, he may not see consistent minutes, writes Tim Bontemps of the New York Post.
Lakers Interested In Shumpert, Chandler
The Lakers recently called the Knicks to express their interest in Iman Shumpert, sources close to the situation tell Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. No trade is imminent, however, and sources say the Lakers’ call was more about doing their due diligence.
The Lakers are unlikely to make a deal before the end of their current four-game trip, but they could be interested in bolstering their backcourt given the recent rash of injuries. Steve Blake has now joined point guards Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar on the injured list thanks to an elbow injury that will sideline him at least six weeks. Shumpert, of course, is a two-guard, but Kobe Bryant has been uncharacteristically pass-happy since making his return.
Shump isn’t their only possible target Sources tell Broussard the Lakers also are interested in center Tyson Chandler but have yet to inquire on him. Los Angeles is deciding whether to propose a Pau Gasol-for-Chandler trade and even though the Knicks aren’t looking to move him, they’ve gotten several calls. The Knicks would rather keep Chandler, but they’d consider moving him if it meant also dealing struggling guard J.R. Smith.
Odds & Ends: Thibodeau, Lowry, Jazz, Bobcats
Despite some speculation to the contrary, Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times insists that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t going anywhere. It was recently reported that the Knicks could make a run at the defensively-minded coach. More from around the Association..
- With the Nets unwilling to give up a first-round pick for Kyle Lowry and the Knicks saying they won’t part with a first rounder or Tim Hardaway Jr., Al Iannazone of Newsday (on Twitter) wonders if the Knicks will wind up caving.
- The Jazz announced that they have assigned rookie guard Ian Clark and rookie center Rudy Gobert to its D-League affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam. Gobert, a 7’1″ rookie center has made 17 appearances for the Jazz in a reserve role, averaging 2.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.82 blocks in 10.7 minutes. Clark, 22, has appeared in eight games as a reserve for the Jazz, averaging 2.8 points in 8.8 minutes.
- The accountability of first-year coach Steve Clifford sets a good tone for the Bobcats, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
- Blazers forward Dorell Wright doesn’t sound terribly upset about the Sixers‘ decision to not re-sign him. “You see what direction they were going in. That was not in my plan at all,” said Wright, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).
- Magic officials have challenged Andrew Nicholson to become more physical since taking him with the 19th overall pick in the 2012 draft and he’s finally responding, writes Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.
Eastern Notes: Irving, Rondo, Augustin, Nets
WIll Kyrie Irving stay or go? It’s probably too early to say considering he’s still on his rookie deal with the Cavs, but this is a fanbase that has been burned before. If the yahoo who ran on to the court with a shirt imploring Kyrie not to leave is any indication, Cleveland fans will continue biting their nails until 2016. Scott Cacciola of the New York Times looked at the road ahead for the star guard and the attention that will be around his decision (with a lower case “d”) over the next few years. More from the Eastern Conference..
- Celtics coach Brad Stevens says Rajon Rondo was cleared for contact practice today but he won’t play until the New Year, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPNBoston.com. Rondo was all over Hoops Rumors earlier this month when it was reported that Carmelo Anthony was working to woo him to New York for the summer of 2015. Both players have denied that ever happening, however.
- D.J. Augustin passed on NBA interest from elsewhere to sign on with the Bulls, writes Shams Charania of RealGM. “My agent and I both felt this would be the best opportunity,” Augustin said. “I just couldn’t pass it up.”
- The win-now approach of the Nets and Knicks is more about seeing who can spend the most money than actually vying for a title, writes Tomas Rios of Sports On Earth.
Atlantic Rumors: Knicks, Shumpert, MWP, Celtics
The latest out of the Atlantic Division, where the Knicks remain in last place..
- The Knicks would prefer to keep Iman Shumpert out of a deal for Kyle Lowry for the purpose of including him in a future trade and perhaps packaging him with Amar’e Stoudemire, a source tells Frank Isola of the Daily News. Isola adds that the Knicks’ play over the next 48 hours could determine whether or not they make the deal with injuries playing a major factor.
- If the trade talk is getting to Knicks veteran Metta World Peace, then he’s not letting on to the public. “There’s nothing to deal with,’’ World Peace said, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. “It’s like, ‘What am I dealing with? I’m getting paid to play basketball.’ Some guys take trade rumors more personal. What am I dealing with? I work hard. I still can play. I love challenges. All the teams that called me, I wanted an adventure — China, Knicks, Arena Football. This is an adventure. This is good. You have to be ready for the unpredictable. I’m glad I can go through unpredictable situations.’’
- The Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett gives credit to the Celtics‘ bench, featuring newcomers Phil Pressey and Vitor Faverani.
Odds & Ends: Gasol, Knicks, Clippers
It seems high trading season has begun early this year, as this week has featured another Rudy Gay swap, plenty of rumors about Omer Asik and Kyle Lowry, and a flurry of roster moves. Sunday is December 15th, the day many players become eligible for inclusion in trades, so the week ahead doesn’t figure to be any slower. Here’s more from a busy Association:
- Kobe Bryant dismisses the notion that Pau Gasol and Mike D’Antoni are at odds, as Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com notes via Twitter. “That’s every year,” Bryant said. “They’re like an old couple. That’s every year. It’s not really anything new. It’s not a big deal.” Of course, D’Antoni and Gasol have only been together since last season.
- Every part of the Knicks franchise is in “complete chaos,” says Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). New York lost to the Celtics tonight for the second time in six days, but in contrast to Sunday’s 41-point blowout, this time it was only by four.
- Ongoing negotiations for a local TV deal helped motivate the Clippers to spend on Chris Paul and Doc Rivers, according to Bleacher Report’s Jared Zwerling.
- Many around the league see Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg as the top candidate for an NBA head coaching job among those currently leading college teams, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com.
- HoopsWorld’s Nate Duncan tries to identify the players who’ll stick around for the long-term on the Suns, Jazz and Kings as each team rebuilds.