Eastern Notes: George, Wade, Shumpert, LBJ
The Nets will look to snap a five-game losing streak tonight when they take on the Atlantic Division leaders in Toronto. As we look forward to that game and the three others on Tuesday’s slate, let’s check in on a few items from around the Eastern Conference….
- Grantland’s Zach Lowe provides a couple interesting details on Paul George‘s extension with the Pacers. Because he signed a max deal, George would be eligible for up to 30% (rather than 25%) of the salary cap if he earns All-NBA honors this season, thanks to the Derrick Rose rule. However, if he does meet the Rose criteria, George’s salary will be just 27% of the cap, according to Lowe. In exchange for that concession, the Pacers forward received a player option on the fifth year of his new deal.
- Seeing Kobe Bryant sign an extension that will likely assure he finishes his career as a Laker has strengthened Dwyane Wade‘s own desire to spend the rest of his career with the Heat, as he tells Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Wade will be eligible to opt out of his deal next summer, but isn’t expected to go anywhere.
- Iman Shumpert didn’t record a single point, rebound, or assist in more than 23 minutes of action last night, but insisted trade rumors weren’t the reason for his poor outing, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday.
- Sean Deveney of the Sporting News spoke to league executives about the possibility of LeBron James returning to the Cavs, and the consensus was that it may happen eventually, but likely not as soon as next summer.
- Amin Elhassan of ESPN.com (Insider link) identifies six potential trade targets for the Bulls as they look to fill their hole at point guard.
Odds & Ends: Rose, Williams, Kobe, Melo, Dirk
It’s deja vu for the Bulls as they’ll be without Derrick Rose for a while. The question now is whether they should keep this gang together in hopes of putting it all together late in the season upon Rose’s return, or cut bait and begin repurposing, writes Zach Lowe of Grantland. Breaking the team up could also have the added benefit of lightening this season’s tax bill in the process. Here’s more from around the Association..
- The Nets were linked to Derrick Williams before he was shipped to the Kings earlier tonight, but team sources tell Fred Kerber of the New York Post (on Twitter) that they weren’t among the interested clubs.
- Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com looks at how Kobe Bryant‘s new deal affects Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. Melo will hit the open market after the 2013/14 season and Los Angeles has been linked to him for quite some time. The question now is, will Anthony still be attracted to L.A. now that they likely would have to fill out the roster with minimum salary retreads.
- Meanwhile, Brad Townsend of the Dallas News wonders what an extension for Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki might look like in the wake of Kobe’s new deal.
- Heat veteran Rashard Lewis gave serious thought to retiring, but he’s very happy with his choice to continue, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Lewis thought he was finished, but he now finds himself as a significant contributor in Miami.
T-Wolves Close To Trading Derrick Williams?
Derrick Williams‘ stint with the Timberwolves may be nearing its end, says Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 Twin Cities (Twitter links). The buzz is that a Williams trade is close, according to Wolfson, who lists the Jazz, Kings, Knicks, and Nets as possible suitors for the forward.
We typically don’t see many in-season swaps made before offseason signees become trade-eligible on December 15th, but that doesn’t mean teams can’t strike deals before then. Still, it’s not clear whether Minnesota is on the verge of finalizing a trade involving Williams, or whether the team is simply progressing to more advanced talks with potential trade partners.
A report earlier this month suggested that the Wolves had made both Williams and Alexey Shved available. Team president Flip Saunders denied that report, but Williams hasn’t been an ideal fit in Minnesota, and has been the subject of plenty of trade rumors and speculation. ESPN.com’s Chad Ford reported a week ago that the Kings had “a lot of interest” in the former second overall pick.
The Wolves picked up Williams’ 2014/15 option prior to opening night, so any team acquiring him would be on the hook for the rest of this year’s $5.02MM salary, along with next year’s $6.33MM.
Eastern Notes: Amar’e, Raptors, Bulls, Magic
Knicks owner James Dolan spoke glowingly of Amar’e Stoudemire last week, telling the New York Post that he has no regrets about the signing and that he credits Stoudemire for making the team a desirable landing spot for players like Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. As Marc Berman of the New York Post details, Stoudemire was appreciative of Dolan’s comments, and indicated that he hopes to get healthy and productive again for the Knicks.
“My mission is to become a great player and hopefully become a future Hall of Famer,’’ Stoudemire said. “My goal is to do it in New York, to finish out my career here. That’s the goal. That’s the mission — trying to get better and better and try to dodge injuries.”
Here’s more from around the East:
- GM Masai Ujiri and the new decision-making group in the Raptors‘ front office are trying their best to be patient and evaluate the roster before making any changes, says Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
- Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune argues that, with Derrick Rose sidelined for another season, the Bulls ought to blow up the current roster and do what it takes to become a lottery team. However, a team source tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio that Chicago has “no interest in playing the draft lottery.” Given how weak the Eastern Conference looks this year, it would likely take several big moves for the Bulls to bottom out, so I’d be surprised if they chose that route.
- Expect the Magic to be active in exploring potential trades this season, but they won’t make a move unless it advances their long-term goals, writes Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.
- In addition to discussing the Sixers‘ surprising start and his success early on in the season, Evan Turner said he isn’t thinking about his uncertain future with the team, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Stoudemire, Nets
Knicks owner James Dolan reportedly told the team’s coaches before the season that he expects them to win the championship this year, but Marc Berman of the New York Post hears that the owner never said he “expects” a title, and didn’t issue any edict. Dolan nonetheless said recently in a rare public statement that he thinks the team is one of many that could win it all this year. For now, that seems like a pipe dream for the 3-9 Knicks and everyone else in the Atlantic Division, where all five teams are below .500. Here’s more from the division that’s been the NBA’s worst so far:
- Amar’e Stoudemire wants to retire as a member of the Knicks and tells reporters, including Berman, that he has a genuine affection for Dolan.
- Garnett told reporters on Friday that, “You’re going to have the business of basketball come into play, I’m sure, and management is probably going to do what they’ve got to do,” and Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News sees it as a hint at roster changes for the Nets.
- Celtics forward Gerald Wallace isn’t as surprised as most that the Nets are struggling, having figured the team would sputter at first without having had much experience playing together, observes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
- It’s an awkward fit for Wallace and three other veterans Boston acquired in its blockbuster offseason trade with Brooklyn, but Celtics GM Danny Ainge isn’t concerned they’ll become disruptive malconents, as fellow Herald scribe Mark Murphy notes.
- Doug Smith of the Toronto Star answers reader mail and shares his thoughts on the Raptors, believing GM Masai Ujiri will be hesitant to take on much long-term salary in a trade this year.
Eastern Notes: Garnett, LeBron, Cavs
Prior to last night’s 111-81 loss to the T’Wolves, Nets forward Kevin Garnett told reporters that he’s not ready to discuss his future beyond this season. “I focus on what’s happening [now],” Garnett said after the Nets’ shootaround. “There is a lot of emotions that come with this building. … But, obviously, different time, different personnel, different times.” Last night, coach Jason Kidd said he wouldn’t be surprised if it was KG’s last time on the hardwood in Minnesota. Here’s more out of the East..
- The other potential summer suitors for Heat star LeBron James aren’t looking so hot right now, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The Cavs have been atrocious to start the year and things aren’t much better with the Knicks, who are perpetually linked to James despite not having the cap flexibility necessary. The Lakers should have the cash needed to make a run at LeBron and the other top free agents in the class, but things are pretty dysfunctional in L.A. as well.
- Nate Duncan of HoopsWorld isn’t sure what to make of the Cavs‘ situation. Nearly everyone on the Cleveland roster has disappointed offensively, including banged-up offseason-acquisition Andrew Bynum and first overall pick Anthony Bennett.
- Pacers center Roy Hibbert is confident that Jeff Green can be the Celtics‘ go-to guy, despite his inconsistencies, writes Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe. Hibbert added that with Danny Ainge at the helm, the C’s are sure to put quality talent around Green in the years to come.
- in today’s mailbag, Winderman writes that the Heat are working on grooming Quincy Douby, currently with the Sioux Falls SkyForce, strengthening his point guard skills. The Rutgers product is known for his tremendous range and scoring ability, but has never been much of a passer.
Union, Isiah Thomas Have Spoken About Top Job
The National Basketball Players Association has had talks with Isiah Thomas about the possibility that he could be its next executive director, Thomas tells Marc Berman of the New York Post. Thomas was “aggressively pursuing” the job at one point, but that’s no longer the case, according to Berman. Thomas served as president of the union for several years during his playing career with the Pistons.
The 52-year-old said this spring that he was “definitely” interested in returning to basketball as either a coach or a GM, but he tells Berman that he’s now more focused on business ventures. Still, Thomas said he’d listen if a team asked him to join its front office. He also left the door open for a return to the Knicks, though he’s not anxious to see that happen.
“I want to be clear about it today,’’ Thomas said. “I have really moved on, and I moved on years ago. Everyone else should really do the same.”
Knicks owner James Dolan said he wouldn’t hire Thomas back, as we passed along today. Berman hears that even if Dolan wanted to do so, Thomas would only work as Knicks GM if the owner would lift his policy of not allowing his executives to freely address the media.
New York Links: Woodson, Calipari, Garnett
The Nets are playing the Timberwolves tonight while the Knicks are off, so Brooklyn can either claim last place in the Atlantic Division all to itself with a loss, or win and let the media sharpen their focus on the struggling Knicks. We rounded up news from New York this morning, but there’s still more to pass along:
- Mike Woodson appreciates owner James Dolan’s comments of support, and he isn’t letting rumors about his job security or the “Fire Woodson!” chants at Madison Square Garden get to him, observes Fred Kerber of the New York Post.
- University of Kentucky coach John Calipari says he isn’t paying attention to chatter suggesting he could be the next coach of the Knicks, telling reporters, including Jeff Drummond of Scout.com, that he’s “good where I am” in response to a question about whether he’d ever want to return to the NBA.
- Jason Kidd knows he might not have Kevin Garnett next year, acknowledging that KG might retire as the coach spoke to reporters before Brooklyn’s only game at Minnesota this year. “I wouldn’t doubt that this is the last time he plays on this floor,” Kidd said, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News notes.
- Bondy heard recently from Nets sources that Kidd’s job isn’t in danger, and the coach acknowledged that ownership has been patient with the team’s slow start, as the Daily News Scribe passes along in the same piece.
- Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck lobs out several questions that James Dolan wasn’t asked when he broke his long media blackout.
- Whether or not he has to worry about his job, Kidd doesn’t have to concern himself with any hard feelings from Mavs owner Mark Cuban, who says he’s gotten over the point guard’s decision to spurn Dallas to sign with the Knicks last summer. Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com has the details.
New York Notes: Taylor, Shengelia, Coaches
As if merely playing in New York didn’t get them enough attention, the Nets and Knicks are under increased scrutiny in the early going this season, as both teams are off to 3-8 starts. Considering the Atlantic division leaders are the 5-7 Raptors and 5-8 Sixers, neither New York club is in significant danger yet, but the pressure on each team has certainly intensified. Here’s the latest out of NYC:
- Following up on a piece he wrote yesterday about the long shadow cast by the repeater tax, Mark Deeks of ShamSports suggests (via Twitter) that it makes sense for the Nets to trade away one of their little-used bench players like Tyshawn Taylor or Tornike Shengelia in a straight salary dump.
- Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports and Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News both have new pieces up on rookie head coach Jason Kidd. Wojnarowski writes that Kidd looks overwhelmed so far, but isn’t a lost cause, while Bondy questions whether Kidd’s latest comments are encouraging or delusional.
- A source tells Frank Isola of the New York Daily News that there’s a little friction between Kidd and top Nets assistant Lawrence Frank. “Something has changed between them,” according to Isola’s source.
- Isola also hears that Mike Woodson may have “some trust issues” with his staff in New York. As the Daily News scribe writes: “Every time you turn around, the Knicks hire somebody else to rebound for a player during shooting drills and give that person the title of ‘workout coach.'”
- Earlier today, we passed along a few notable quotes from a rare James Dolan Q&A.
James Dolan Talks Woodson, Isiah, Amar’e
Knicks owner James Dolan doesn’t speak to the media often, but amidst his team’s 3-8 start to the 2013/14 season, he sat down with Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post for a Q&A. While there was no mention of the Knicks’ peculiar decision to keep Chris Smith on the roster, or any discussion of Carmelo Anthony‘s long-term future, Dolan did provide a few comments on topics of interest. Let’s round up a few of the highlights….
On whether Mike Woodson‘s job is safe:
“I have a lot of confidence in Woodson, and one thing I can say about Mike is he has the respect of all the players. They all respect him. And he treats them fairly and relatively equally, and that’s part of where the respect emanates from. And those are hard things to get from a coach. When a coach loses a team… that’s when a coach is kind of done.”
On comparing this year’s team to last year’s squad, which started off 18-5:
“You know what? I wouldn’t take last year’s team for this year’s team, because this year’s team is more designed to be a playoff team, whereas last year’s team was 18-5 but look who was playing: we had Rasheed Wallace who was doing everything for us, right? And we just started losing player after player… by the time we got to the playoffs that 18-5 team wasn’t the team that was playing in the playoffs. If they were I think we would’ve beaten Indiana.”
On replacing GM Glen Grunwald with Steve Mills just before camp got underway:
“I didn’t time it, per se, like that. I’m surprised other folks were surprised about this. The general manager’s work doesn’t really occur at that time of year. If you’re going to change general managers that’s probably the right time to do it. The next available trade date is December 15th¹. You’ve just finished free agency and all that. It’s a lull period. The timing didn’t really have much to do with that.”
On whether he’d ever bring back Isiah Thomas:
“Do I think he deserves another shot? Yeah. It just can’t be here. And I think he’s talented. I think he’s particularly talented at finding basketball talent. But I think he’s probably dismayed at this point. But I don’t see him coming back to New York. I couldn’t do that to him, and I couldn’t do that to the organization. He would probably do it as my friend, but I couldn’t do it to him or his family. And you know what the press would do here. We’re interested in getting better and that situation would be such a distraction that it would actually hinder our ability to get better.”
On whether he’d like a mulligan on signing Amar’e Stoudemire:
“Nope…. We would not be where we are today without Amar’e. That summer, the summer of “The Decision,” there were a whole bunch of free agents, and the guys put their thing together in Miami, and Amar’e agreed to come to the Knicks, gave us a launch pad by which we could convince the other guys like Tyson [Chandler] to come, and ultimately Carmelo to come play with us. Do I think Carmelo would have come if we didn’t have Amar’e? No, I don’t think he would’ve. These free agents, when you get to this level of player — the Carmelos, the LeBrons, the Durants — the first thing they want before the money or anything else is to be on a winning team. They’ve got to believe they have a shot.”
¹ Trades can be made prior to December 15th, but most players signed this offseason can’t be dealt until after that date.