Poll: Will Nets And Knicks Make The Playoffs?
Is it time to panic in New York? While there’s still a long way to go in this NBA season, we are nearly at the quarter-mark and the dreadful starts for the Nets and Knicks cannot be ignored. The Nets fell to 4-12 last night with a dreadful loss in Houston thanks to their matador defense and lack of ball movement on the other end of the floor. The Knicks, meanwhile, dropped their eighth straight contest, losing 97-95 on the road to the Nuggets after Carmelo Anthony‘s last second shot to force overtime missed. New Yorkers aren’t known for their patience and as both teams languish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, both Jason Kidd and Mike Woodson find themselves on the hotseat.
While everyone is still busy chuckling at Kidd’s “cup-gate” scandal, the Nets have much larger problems facing them at this juncture of the season. Under Kidd, the Nets look like a team without direction or motivation and frankly, they look downright old. Granted, there have been injuries. Deron Williams and key reserves Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry are still sidelined with TBD return dates. Center Brook Lopez was out for seven games with a tweaked ankle before coming back last night to have the only solid performance of anyone wearing black and white. Still, the team looked out of sorts before the injury bug hit. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett appear to be fractions of what they used to be and without those two clicking, this team isn’t going to get very far. And in case you’re thinking that the Nets’ deep-pocketed ownership will sign off on another pricey acquisition between now and the trade deadline, think again. Mikhail Prokhorov has made it clear that the team is at its absolute spending limit. The Nets also don’t really have first-round picks that they can deal thanks to the Celtics blockbuster.
While some Nets fans might be wondering why Kidd was given the reins as head coach this summer, Knicks star Carmelo Anthony says the club desperately misses his veteran leadership. Maybe he’s right. The Knicks bent over backwards to re-sign last season’s Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith and upgraded their frontcourt with Andrea Bargnani, but they’ve stumbled badly out of the gate. If the Knicks can’t right the ship, it could have repercussions that go far beyond the 2012/13 season. It’s hard to envision Anthony, a free agent at season’s end, turning down the likes of the Lakers to stay with a lottery-bound Knicks squad.
Still, it’s a long season. How do you see it all playing out for the Nets and Knicks?
Will The Nets And Knicks Make The Playoffs?
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Yes, the Nets and Knicks will make the playoffs. 29% (228)
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No, neither team will make the playoffs. 29% (227)
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The Knicks will make the playoffs, the Nets won't. 22% (171)
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The Nets will make the playoffs, the Knicks won't. 19% (148)
Total votes: 774
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Knicks, Kidd
Well, at least half of my Nets-Rockets Finals prediction seems to be holding up okay. Here’s the latest out of the Atlantic Division..
- Jason Kidd‘s cup incident has distracted from the fact that the Nets aren’t playing good basketball under the rookie head coach, writes Andy Vasquez of the Bergen Record. The Nets are now 4-12 and have dropped ten of their last 12 games.
- It’s been a while since the Knicks had an eight game losing streak, tweets Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. They had a starting lineup of Sergio Rodriguez, Tracy McGrady, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and David Lee. The Knicks also had reserves Eddie House, Al Harrington, and Bill Walker.
- Kidd benched most of his starters in the second half, including offseason acquisitions Paul Pierce and Shaun Livingston, in last night’s embarrassing loss to Houston, writes Tim Bontemps of the New York Post.
Odds & Ends: Tanking, DeRozan, Vucevic
While ownership, team executives, and coaches may sometimes choose to tank games (usually referred to by some as “focusing on the future”), Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld writes that players aren’t in on it, especially if they’re trying to prove themselves or avoiding the possibility that their potential replacement gets drafted.
Here’s more of tonight’s miscellaneous news and notes:
- Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun (via Twitter) wonders if the Raptors should look to move DeMar DeRozan while his value is high, especially if they can’t find a taker for Rudy Gay.
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel writes that the Magic are trying to figure out center Nikola Vucevic‘s worth and thinks that the potential numbers on an extension could be between what Larry Sanders and Nikola Pekovic got from their respective teams this past summer.
- Looking back at how his tenure as the Trail Blazers’ head coach came to an end, Pacers assistant Nate McMillan tells Joe Freeman of the Oregonian that his one regret was trying to fit Gerald Wallace into the starting lineup (to keep the veteran from becoming disgruntled) despite Nicolas Batum needing the development.
- ESPN looked to 5 of its writers to give their thoughts on how much hope that Knicks, Nets, Cavaliers, Bulls, and Lakers fans should have moving forward this season.
- Hoopsworld’s Moke Hamilton discusses what he calls the “Derrick Rose dilemma” for Chicago – deciding whether or not to stay the course or start tear down the current team in order to build for the future.
- Although it’s possible that the Bulls will make a move or two to address the team’s current situation, Herb Gould of the Chicago Sun-Times points out that the return of Jimmy Butler to the lineup will help and how Chicago already proved they can at least stay competitive during the regular season without Rose.
Trade Candidate: Iman Shumpert
During the summer of 2011, Chauncey Billups – still a member of the Knicks at the time – had participated in some competitive pickup games at the Impact Basketball League in Las Vegas while awaiting a resolution to the NBA lockout. Among those who caught his eye immediately was Iman Shumpert, who had been recently drafted by New York that June and played alongside Billups on his first day of action:
“…I’m just looking forward to playing more with my new teammate Shumpert. He’s very athletic, and I’m just trying to learn his game right now. I’ll only have to play with him a few times and I will see how to best use him. I’m gonna try to make him a star, man.”
Though Billups would eventually be amnestied before the two could suit up for a regular season game together, it wasn’t very long before the Knicks and their fans appeared to see Shumpert as a promising prospect to develop for their future. From having his name chanted at Madison Square Garden during his second game as a rookie and being a mainstay rotation player during the “Linsanity” craze of 2011/12 to helping the Knicks win their first playoff series in over a decade last May, Shumpert has proven to be a key contributor during some of New York’s successful runs.
14 games into his third season in the league, those days of success seem to be a distant memory. Despite averaging a career high 30.1 MPG this season, Shumpert is shooting 38.9% from the field overall, and while that number isn’t too far off from his career average, his 32.4% clip from long distance represents a steep drop from last year (40.2%). Arguably his poorest performance came against the Trail Blazers last week, where he went scoreless with no rebounds or assists in 23 minutes of action. The 6’5 guard has been the hot topic of trade rumors as of late, leading some to speculate the talk as a reason for his poor play. Although he went on to deny such a notion, even Walt Frazier – the Knicks’ TV color commentator – recently surmised that the rumors were an impetus for Shumpert’s lost confidence:
“…Sometimes he doesn’t look like he’s happy out here. Maybe that’s because he heard the rumors he’s being traded. But he’s very stern in his face. It doesn’t look like he’s having fun.’’
Earlier this month, the Knicks had been linked to the Nuggets regarding a potential Shumpert-for-Kenneth Faried swap, although talks didn’t make much progress. Aside from the reported failed attempt to deal Shumpert in a package for Rajon Rondo, another name recently tied to discussions was Jason Thompson of the Kings. Just yesterday, Marc Berman of the New York Post wrote that New York is currently seeking front court help as they look to gauge Iman’s value on the trade market.The former Georgia Tech product is currently on the books for $1.7M this year, likely creating a challenge to find another trade partner who would be able to make a one-for-one swap (that is, unless the Knicks are looking to trade for a player making around the $1.4MM veteran’s minimum or someone on a rookie-scale deal).
Hypothetically speaking, if the Knicks were to pursue Jason Thompson ($5.64MM this year) or a player making similar money, they’ll have to wait until December 15th in order to have the ability to include some of the small contracts they signed over the summer (i.e. Pablo Prigioni, Beno Udrih, or Cole Aldrich to name a few) as a means to make salaries match in a trade. On the other hand, if Andrea Bargnani maintains his current production (14.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.2 BPG on 46% shooting from the field) between now and the February deadline, one could argue that Shumpert and Bargnani could make for an intriguing trade package to shop around the league as well.
Although Shumpert may not currently resemble the “star” that Billups had envisioned helping him eventually become, a change of scenery could be what he needs to move past his current struggles. His numbers thus far might be off-putting, but Iman isn’t too far removed from a postseason in which he averaged 9.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG and shot nearly 43% from three. With J.R. Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr. on board, New York could arguably afford to part with Iman in favor of a big man that could bolster a front court that includes a recovering Tyson Chandler and minute restrictions on Kenyon Martin and Amar’e Stoudemire.
Central Notes: Deng, Bulls, Pacers
The Cavaliers reportedly had interest in trading for Luol Deng this past summer but were rebuffed by the Bulls, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. As of now, Deveney adds, it doesn’t appear that anything on that front will change anytime soon, and unless Chicago can obtain a 2014 draft pick, there isn’t much sense in moving Deng. Here’s more out of the Central Division tonight, including much more from Deveney:
- That same piece explores the trade value of Carlos Boozer, who according to one general manager isn’t really being sought after by any team at this point. While the Bulls still have the former Duke product on their books until 2015, Deveney opines that the Knicks might become desperate enough to make a move for him to shore up their struggling front court.
- Deveney also writes that Joakim Noah still has high value around the league despite his battles with injury over the last few seasons. The Knicks would appear to be another logical landing spot for the 6’11 center, although the Pelicans, Thunder, and Mavericks are expected to be in pursuit should the Bulls place Noah on the trading block.
- Lastly, with reports that Nikola Mirotic – whose draft rights are still owned by the Bulls – has developed into a star in Spain, Deveney says that if Chicago were to package his rights in a deal including Deng, Noah, or Boozer, they would be looking to get a star player in return. According to one scout, Mirotic is currently the “best player who is not in the NBA right now.” If Mirotic weren’t included in a deal involving any of those three, the Bulls would supposedly settle for cap relief, draft picks, and/or young talent.
- Sam Smith of Bulls.com opened his mailbag and dissects trade suggestions sent in by his readers.
- Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen thinks the Pacers currently have the requisite pieces in place to make a title run this season. However, considering Indiana’s vow to remain under the tax threshold, the team isn’t likely to maintain the same type of depth after this year, especially with Danny Granger‘s contract set to expire and Lance Stephenson due for a new contract.
Atlantic Links: Raptors, Livingston, Knicks
The Raptors weren’t among the list of teams initially reported to be a possible suitor for Dion Waiters, but Doug Smith of the Toronto Star says GM Masai Ujiri has surely considered Waiters and thought about whether there’s a deal to be made. That’s not to say that Toronto is pursuing Waiters, but if there are players on the trade market even a little interesting to Ujiri, he’ll be making calls and weighing those options, says Smith.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News takes a look at Shaun Livingston‘s long road back to NBA relevancy, following injuries that wiped out several years early in his career. Livingston, who is on a one-year contract with the Nets, has recorded a career-high 14.7 PER so far this season, while his 24.7 minutes per game are the most he’s averaged since 2006/07.
- You can debate whether or not Knicks coach Mike Woodson has lost Iman Shumpert, but Woodson has taken preemptive steps to ensure he doesn’t lose the rest of the team, writes Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
- Having lost Jason Kidd and other veteran players over the summer, the Knicks are lacking chemistry and leadership, in Carmelo Anthony‘s opinion. Peter Botte of the New York Daily News has the details.
- Gerald Wallace, Evan Turner, and Shumpert are among the trade candidates to watch this season, says Lang Greene of HoopsWorld, as he examines a few players believed to be on the block.
Eastern Notes: Shumpert, Waiters, James, Heat
Here are a few notes from the Eastern Conference:
- The latest piece by Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com examines Iman Shumpert‘s trade value and the likelihood that the Knicks guard develops into an elite player. Shumpert has been discussed as a potential trade candidate throughout the season, and Begley suggests that his value lies in his potential and not proven production. So far in his career, the former first-round pick has scored 8.2 PPG in 26.5 MPG.
- Marc Berman of the New York Post compares Mike Woodson‘s tough treatment of Shumpert this season to his treatment of J.R. Smith last season. Smith responded positively and ended up winning sixth man of the year, but it remains to be seen whether or not Shumpert will respond in such a way.
- Dion Waiters has been another popular name in trade rumors around the league. We learned yesterday that the Cavaliers are shopping Waiters, and Bob Finnan of the News Herald reveals that Waiters is attempting to stay focused on the court amid all the trade talks: “I’m out here and still smiling. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing than playing basketball. I’ll leave that all to the press. I’ll let them have fun with that.”
- Much was made of LeBron James and “The Decision,” but Tommy Beer of HoopsWorld notes that James’ decision to sign with the Heat was unselfish in the sense that he took less guaranteed years and a significant pay cut in order to play for a championship-caliber club. In fact, James could have made an additional $15MM had he signed a more lucrative contract that was available to him.
- Speaking of the Heat, Shandel Richardson of the Sun Sentinel writes that Miami and the Big Three have come a long way since their 9-8 start in 2010/11 that had critics questioning whether or not the superstar packed club could succeed. James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade each have early termination options on their contracts for the 2014/15 season, but there’s been little evidence to suggest any of them are eager to explore free agency.
Odds & Ends: Waiters, Knicks, NBPA, Vucevic
Happy Thanksgiving to our American readers! There may not be any games on the NBA schedule tonight, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still a few updates from around the league to pass along. Let’s check out the latest….
- While Dion Waiters may be available, don’t expect to see him in a Knicks uniform, says Marc Berman of the New York Post. According to Berman, New York is seeking frontcourt help rather than another shooting guard as the team explores the trade market and gauges Iman Shumpert‘s trade value.
- Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today rounds up recent union developments and passes along the highlights of fellow USA Today scribe Sam Amick’s Q&A with former NBPA president Derek Fisher, who isn’t wavering on his plans to retire.
- Nikola Vucevic doesn’t hold any hard feelings toward the Sixers, who traded him to the Magic a year ago. Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel has the details and the quotes from Vucevic.
- Pierre Jackson is in an unusual situation this season, playing for the D-League’s Idaho Stampede despite the fact that his NBA rights are held by the Pelicans. Dakota Schmidt of Ridiculous Upside takes an in-depth look at the former Baylor guard, attempting to determine whether he has an NBA future.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Cavs Shopping Dion Waiters
6:25pm: Waiters says he’s content to remain in Cleveland and adds that it’s up to he and Irving to make their pairing work, observes Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer. “I’m not happy with us losing but I’m happy here, the city of Cleveland, yeah,” Waiters said.
5:42pm: Waiters confirmed to reporters from the Plain Dealer and other outlets that he has not asked to be traded and called Broussard’s report that he and Grant met for three hours “nonsense” (Twitter link).
4:47pm: The Cavs say they aren’t shopping Waiters, but have fielded inquiries on him, according to the Plain Dealer (Twitter link). The denial from the team is no surprise, since it would hurt the Cavs’ leverage if they looked eager to move him. I’m guessing Waiters is very much available, and whether or not Cleveland is actively “shopping” him is a matter of semantics.
3:29pm: Deng, Shumpert, and Evan Turner are among the Cavs’ targets in talks for Waiters, tweets Broussard.
3:03pm: In his full story on the Cavs and Waiters, Broussard says that while the guard hasn’t requested a trade, he brought up the possibility during a meeting last week with GM Chris Grant and coach Mike Brown. Broussard adds that Waiters and Irving “are not close” and that Waiters believes the Cavs hold him to different standards than Irving.
According to Broussard, the Cavs have interest in Luol Deng, and are believed to have reached out to clubs besides the Bulls, Knicks, and 76ers. While Iman Shumpert would appear to be the obvious trade candidate for the Knicks, New York is “not interested” in such a deal for now.
2:43pm: The Cavaliers are shopping Dion Waiters as a potential trade chip, sources tell Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Broussard, the Bulls, Knicks, and Sixers are among the teams who have spoken to Cleveland, but no deal is imminent.
Last week, we heard that Waiters may be at the center of some of the Cavs’ chemistry issues, though the second-year guard denied being involved in a physical altercation during a players-only meeting. Broussard reports (via Twitter) that rumors of a fight between Waiters and Kyrie Irving are false, but says Waiters and Tristan Thompson had an “intense argument” and needed to be separated.
Whether or not Waiters has become a problem in the team’s locker room, he’s open to being moved, according to Broussard. However, ESPN.com’s Chad Ford isn’t convinced the Syracuse product would have significant value on the trade market.
Waiters, the No. 4 overall pick in 2012, averaged 14.7 PPG in his rookie season, but has yet to show strong signs of developing into the impact scorer the Cavs are hoping for. The 21-year-old has shot just 40.9% from the floor so far in his NBA career. If Cleveland were to find a deal involving Waiters, he may be part of a larger package, since his modest $3.89MM salary wouldn’t accommodate a ton of trade options.
Odds & Ends: Kobe, Bulls, Heat, Wizards
Kobe Bryant says he gave no thought to leaving the Lakers in free agency, and defended himself against criticism that his extension will hurt the team, as USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt observes. Most Hoops Rumors readers agree, believing the Lakers will sign another max free agent in either 2014 or 2015. Here’s more from the Association:
- The Bulls seem likely to get a disabled player exception after Derrick Rose‘s injury, but that doesn’t mean they’ll use it, as Salary Cap FAQ author Larry Coon explains (Twitter links).
- There’s no sign of any rift between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and as the Cavs and others lurk in free agency, LeBron seems as much a part of the Heat as ever, writes Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald.
- Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld says he has no plans to make a roster move in the next two weeks while Bradley Beal recovers from a stress injury in his right leg, observes Michael Lee of the Washington Post. Beal will miss at least that amount of time.
- Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report hears from a source that new Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger is getting “considerable direction” from the team’s ownership and front office. “They’re suggesting lineups,” said the source. “Aggressively.”
- In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Jeff Goodman makes the case for why Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart could receive some consideration as the first overall pick next June.
- Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports catches up with Josh Howard, who is playing with the D-League’s Austin Toros as he attempts to make his way back to the NBA.
- FIBA approved moving the 2018 basketball World Cup to 2019, as Lefteris Moutis of Eurohoops.net writes. Qualification will take place while most pro leagues are in session, a move that probably isn’t popular with the NBA.
- Mike Woodson made it clear to reporters today that the perception he doesn’t like Iman Shumpert is off base, as Frank Isola of the New York Daily News tweets.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.