Odds & Ends: Pistons, Budinger, Hardaway, Kings
The Pistons have engaged in discussions about acquiring exclusive control of an NBA D-League team, writes David Mayo of MLive.com. The Pistons' share their current affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, with the Bobcats, Pacers, Grizzlies, Bucks, and Magic. Here's more from around the Association..
- It looks like Chase Budinger's left knee issue isn't as bad as initially thought, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter). Meanwhile, the T'Wolves are getting calls from representatives about the likes of Mickael Pietrus and DeShawn Stevenson. They'll decide on signing a free agent over the next week or so.
- Of the current 547 NBA players under contract, 398 played in the NBA last year, 62 come from NCAA teams, and 28 are from the D-League, according to Mark Porcaro of Secret Rival (via Twitter). Porcaro and Hoops Rumors teamed up in September to launch the Hoops Rumors International Player Movement Tracker.
- Tim Hardaway Jr. is showing great poise and professionalism as a rookie,writes Fred Kerber of the New York Post.
- The Kings are loaded with guards, but Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee wants to see Jimmer Fredette get another opportunity to step up.
Atlantic Rumors: Knicks, Bogans, Novak
The Sixers made a couple of moves today, reaching a deal with Gani Lawal and waiving former Raptors center Solomon Alabi to make room. Here's the latest on how a few other additions to Atlantic Division clubs stand to benefit their new teams:
- The Knicks have 14 players with at least a partial guarantee, and coach Mike Woodson indicated today that the final spot is more likely to go to a big man than a wing or a point guard, notes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. That's an auspicious sign for Cole Aldrich, Josh Powell and Ike Diogu.
- Keith Bogans is perhaps the most overpaid player in the NBA this season, thanks to sign-and-trade rules, but Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com looks at the ways that Bogans and his inflated deal can help the C's. They could either dangle him as a trade chip, use the trade exception his inclusion in the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett swap facilitated, or both.
- Steve Novak is the only asset the Raptors received in the Andrea Bargnani trade who'll be on the team's roster this year, and Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun examines how the former Knick can help north of the border.
- Players drafted at the end of the first round are often non-factors as rookies, but Tim Hardaway Jr., whom the Knicks took 24th overall this year, has a chance to parlay J.R. Smith's five-game suspension into meaningful minutes this season. Fred Kerber of the New York Post examines the issue.
Atlantic Notes: Kidd, White, Raptors, Knicks
This morning, the league announced that new Nets head coach Jason Kidd will be suspended for the first two games of the 2013/14 season after pleading guilty to DWI charges. The move was expected and GM Billy King issued a statement saying, "The decision is consistent with what the league has done in the past and we look forward to Jason leading our team versus Orlando and the rest of the year." Here's more from the Atlantic Division..
- Forward Royce White did not travel with the Sixers on their trip to Europe, a source tells Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News (on Twitter). White, who suffers from a well-documented anxiety disorder that includes a fear of flying, was "given a pass" by the team. The Sixers acquired White from the Rockets this summer along with the rights to Furkan Aldemir.
- Raptors coach Dwane Casey says that he doesn't have a preference between Carlos Morais, Julyan Stone, or Chris Wright for the club's final roster spot, writes Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Casey did say that the decision will be based on much more than talent as he's looking for someone with solid energy.
- Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com looks at the pros and cons of starting defending Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith. The recently re-signed Knicks guard could shine with additional minutes, but he'd also cut into Iman Shumpert's time on the floor. Shumpert is one of the team's top defenders and is used to bottle up opposing guard/wing players.
- Offseason acquisition Metta World Peace says the Knicks have to play as smart as the 1973 team to win a championship in 2013, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Training Camp Notes: Kobe, Marion, Price, Dedmon
Kobe Bryant will be heading back to Germany over the next several days to have platelet-rich plasma therapy treatment on his right knee, which is the same procedure that the Lakers superstar underwent in 2011 and credited with rejuvenating his career (Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports). One source tells Wojnarowski and Spears that the thinking behind pushing back the procedure until now is to give Kobe maximum benefit once he's able to return to action this season. Here's some more of the buzz coming from NBA training camps this evening:
- Mavericks forward Shawn Marion will become a free agent after this upcoming season, but there's no guarantee that the 35-year-old will continue his playing career beyond 2014, writes Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News.
- Timberwolves training camp invitee A.J. Price is expected to make the team, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN in Minnesota.
- Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks that DeWayne Dedmon's size gives him a chance to make the Warriors' opening night roster.
- Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal explains why New York should keep recently-invited swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts on board for the regular season.
Atlantic Notes: Collins, 87ers, Nets
A few notes from around the Atlantic Division.
- The Knicks showed some interest signing free agent center Jason Collins, but in the end decided to go with younger talent, like Cole Aldrich and Jeremy Tyler, tweets ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley.
- Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com spoke to Brandon Williams, the new GM of the Sixers' D-League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers. Williams, who spent time in the D-League himself before earning a spot on a championship team in San Antonio, hopes to convey to young players that the league should be viewed not as a demotion, but as a place to improve their game.
- Nets general manager Billy King declared this upcoming season to be his roster's championship window, according to ESPNNY.com's Ohm Youngmisuk.
Knicks Sign Chris Douglas-Roberts, Cut Brownlee
After officially announcing the signing of Justin Brownlee on Monday, the Knicks have already waived their 20th man, according to the team (Twitter link). In Brownlee's place, New York has signed Chris Douglas-Roberts to fill out the preseason roster.
Douglas-Roberts, 26, participated in camp with the Lakers and Mavs a year ago, and eventually appeared in a handful of regular season contests for Dallas. However, the 6'7" wing hasn't seen significant NBA minutes since he played for the Bucks in the 2010/11 season. As Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv notes (via Twitter), Douglas-Roberts becomes the latest in a long line of CAA clients to join the Knicks.
The Knicks' motives for cutting Brownlee so early in camp aren't entirely clear, though Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link) is hearing the St. John's product may have sustained an injury. In that case, it makes sense that the club would want to bring in a healthy body.
Knicks Links: Carmelo, Mills, Woodson, Smith
There was no shortage of Knicks-related headlines yesterday, as the team officially announced multiple camp invitees and exercised Mike Woodson's 2014/15 option. We also rounded up a few notable quotes from new GM Steve Mills, and heard that Kobe Bryant may play a role in Carmelo Anthony's free agency. This morning, we have a few more tidbits left over from Media Day in New York, so let's check out those links….
- Anthony's teammates may believe he's not going anywhere next summer, and Carmelo himself hasn't suggested he's looking to bolt in free agency, but the Knicks can't take any chances, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com, suggesting that the team needs to position itself to add more complementary pieces around its star.
- With the Knicks selling their front office shake-up as a change in direction, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com came away from yesterday's presser wondering if (and how) Mills is more capable of keeping Anthony happy than Glen Grunwald would have been.
- Mills suggested that his use of analytics was part of the reason he was hired by James Dolan to replace the more old-school Grunwald. Given the restrictive nature of the new CBA for taxpaying teams, it's crucial for the team to find value wherever it can, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post (via Sulia).
- The decision to pick up Woodson's option will ensure that it's not a lame-duck season for the Knicks head coach, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee he'll remain with the team for that 2014/15 season, as Berman writes in a piece for the Post.
- J.R. Smith explained to reporters, including Al Iannazzone of Newsday, that putting off knee surgeries until after he had signed a new contract was a "family decision."
Kobe To Play Role in Carmelo’s Free Agency?
Carmelo Anthony didn't give reporters at Knicks media day today any insight into his potential free agency next summer, but a source close to the six-time All-Star tells Frank Isola of the New York Daily News that Kobe Bryant may influence where Anthony plays next season. Bryant could be the "X-factor" in Anthony's decision-making, Isola writes, and if Bryant invites Anthony to chase a title with him, the Knicks may lose their superstar.
Anthony can opt out of his contract next summer, and Bryant is entering the final season of his deal with the Lakers. Even though new Knicks president Steve Mills is clear about his desire to have Anthony back, while the Lakers are holding off on negotiations with Bryant, L.A. seems a far more likely setting than New York if the two are to play together. Bryant isn't eager to take a pay cut on his league-high $30.5MM salary, and it would be virtually impossible for him to change teams next summer without significantly reducing his salary. The Lakers have Bryant's Bird rights and they'll have plenty of cap room available next summer to sign Anthony or another marquee free agent.
Still, both players are nine months away from free agency, and neither of them have dropped any hints themselves about a desire to play together, so there are no strong indications that Anthony will be switching coasts. Much also hinges on another could-be free agent, LeBron James, and where he decides to play, but Anthony's future figures to be a consistent storyline all season.
Knicks Sign Josh Powell
SEPTEMBER 30TH: The team has officially announced Powell's signing.
SEPTEMBER 21ST: The Knicks will sign Josh Powell to a non-guaranteed training camp deal, according to a tweet from Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling, who reports that the six-year NBA veteran has agreed to a deal with the team.
Powell worked out with the team last week, and has also recently auditioned for the Pelicans. The 30-year-old Powell has been out of the NBA for the past two seasons, and in 2011 he played for the Hawks.
Holding a career scoring average of 3.9PPG, Powell is best known for being a member of two championship winning Lakers teams in 2009 and 2010. He was waived by the Spurs last October, but didn't play a game for the team.
Knicks Sign Justin Brownlee
MONDAY, 7:36pm: The Knicks have officially announced Brownlee's signing.
FRIDAY, 6:48pm: Zwerling clarifies that Brownlee has indeed accepted the camp invitation (Twitter link).
6:26pm: The Knicks have extended an invitation to small forward Justin Brownlee for their 20th and final preseason roster spot, tweets Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling. The tweet seems to indicate that the 25-year-old former St. John's player has accepted the team's invitation, though that's not entirely clear. Brownlee was set to work out for the team as of last week.
Brownlee spent last season on the fringes of professional basketball with the San Diego Surf of the American Basketball Association, as our International Player Movement Tracker shows. He also has experience in the D-League and in Mexico. This is his first training camp invitation since he went undrafted in 2011, though he's been in summer league with the Knicks the past two years.
New York has only 12 players on fully guaranteed deals, but C.J. Leslie and Jeremy Tyler have partially guaranteed contracts. Cole Aldrich, Ike Diogu, Toure Murry, Josh Powell, and Chris Smith are all presumably on non-guaranteed deals, as Brownlee likely will be, so there will be plenty of competition for the open spots on the regular season roster.
The Knicks have been linked to a slew of players over the summer, but it appears their offseason search for end-of-the-bench options is at an end. DeSagana Diop, Hassan Whiteside and Ricky Davis are among the NBA veterans who were passed over.