Odds & Ends: Renfroe, Knicks, Cavs, Grizzlies, Bell
Guard Alex Renfroe was reportedly close to signing with the Warriors earlier this month, but now it appears the former Belmont University standout is headed to the Spanish club CB Valladolid, David Pick reports via Twitter (hat tip to Sportando). Renfroe is like many who remain as free agents this time of year, faced with the choice between more money overseas and a shot at making an NBA roster on a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal. While the NBA remains far and away the premier league worldwide, there is legitimate competition for players on the fringes of the Association. Here's the latest:
- Raptors radio analyst Eric Smith says the Knicks have hired former Raptors assistant Dave Hopla as an assistant coach for player development (Twitter link).
- The Cavaliers considered adding another veteran this summer to fill the leadership vaccum left by the departures of Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker, but decided against it, believing coach Byron Scott as well as Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson can provide voices that are strong enough, writes Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer.
- Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that the Grizzlies will remain in the top tier of an improved Western Conference if they can stay healthy.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel believes Raja Bell would be a welcome addition to the Heat. The 36-year-old shooting guard says the Heat would be his first choice if he can secure a buyout from the Jazz.
- Former Spurs enforcer Bruce Bowen talked to Raul Barrigon of HoopsHype.com about the Spurs' decision to largely stand pat this season, the Heat's chances to repeat, and his desire to get into coaching or a front office job someday.
- Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside spoke with guard Cameron Jones, who made first team All-Rookie in the D-League last season after spending training camp with the Heat. Jones is a cousin of Raptors guard Landry Fields.
Washburn On Ujiri, Fisher, Williams, Barnes
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe caught up with Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri, who received plaudits this summer after trading for Andre Iguodala but still faces an uphill battle in a stacked Western Conference. He has more to share from around the league, and we'll hit the highlights here.
- Washburn believes free agent point guard Derek Fisher could be a consideration for the Celtics, though we heard yesterday that A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com doesn't think the team will pursue him. Boston is thin at point guard following the retirement of Keyon Dooling.
- Hawks GM Danny Ferry's decision to buy out Jordan Williams was curious, according to Washburn, who wonders why they didn't try to dangle him in a trade offer. The Globe scribe says at 6'10" and 260 pounds, with the ability to rebound and play center, Williams shouldn't remain a free agent for long. One report has linked Williams to the Knicks.
- Washburn also heard from Matt Barnes, who recently signed with the Clippers, about his experience on the other team in L.A. "I think you really learn a lot about yourself, playing for the Lakers, you are on the biggest stage in the world,” the forward said. “All eyes are always on you. You’re never supposed to miss a shot and you’re never supposed to lose. You really have to control your feelings and emotions when people try to jump on you, because they expect 82-0 and they expect titles every year. It’s not a bad tradition to live up to, but you definitely find out a lot about yourself.”
Knicks Hire Baron Davis For Advisory Role
Baron Davis is recovering from a serious right knee injury and isn't ready to return to the court, but he's agreed to join the Knicks as an adviser, and will do some charity and in-game entertainment work for the team as well, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. The job, which comes with no official title, may include some scouting duties as well.
Davis is an unrestricted free agent as a player, and despite suffering a partial tear of his patella tendon and complete tears of his ACL and MCL, he said last month he hopes to return to play at some point this season. Begley writes that he's not expected to be ready before May, one year after the injury occurred, which means he's likely out for the entire 2012/13 season.
Though he's played only 29 games in a Knicks uniform, he's shown affection for the team, and the feeling appears mutual, as the Knicks reportedly approached him about an advisory role this summer while he was doing rehab with the team's trainers. When Davis returns to the court, it's clear his first choice will be to remain in New York.
"I hope I return. I want to come back," the point guard said in June, according to Begley. "I want to be a Knick for the rest of my career. … Playing in the Garden and the people, the fans. I feel like New York is the mecca of basketball. This was the best stage, for who I am, to give back to the community and play for a top-notch organization."
Knicks Interested In Rasheed Wallace?
According to Ric Bucher of ESPN.com, Rasheed Wallace has been working out with Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas at the Knicks practice facility, adding that the team is "considering" him (Twitter link).
Wallace has not played in an NBA game since June 2010 and officially announced his retirement in August of that year. This past February, there was a report which suggested that the he was planning to sign with the Lakers and had also been linked to the Heat around March, but neither situation materialized.
The 6'11 forward has some previous ties with current Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, who had been an assistant coach under Larry Brown when the Pistons won the NBA title in 2003-04. Should Wallace be invited to training camp, the recently-turned 38-year-old would be the fourth eldest player on the roster, behind Kurt Thomas (set to turn 40 in October), Jason Kidd (39), and Marcus Camby, who is older by about six months.
New York Notes: Shumpert, Brooks
We're about 40 more days away from Brooklyn hosting their home opener against the Knicks, which should be one of the more exciting games to start the regular season. The NBA has not seen both of these teams make the post-season simultaneously since the 2003-04 playoffs, in which the regional rivals met in the first round. We've got some links to relay, including two that include young guards who could find themselves matched up against each other in a competitive cross-town rivalry for several years to come. Here's what we've heard out of New York tonight:
- Nate Taylor of the New York Times' Off the Dribble blog writes that Knicks guard Iman Shumpert has been walking without a brace or a limp, which gives some indication that his rehabilitation this summer has been progressing well.
- Ben Couch of BrooklynNets.com presents a comprehensive piece about MarShon Brooks that chronicles his journey to the NBA, the ebbs and flows of his rookie season, his experience during this year's Orlando Summer Pro League, and his preparation for a sophomore campaign with the Nets.
- Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York talks about the dynamic duo that the Knicks have with Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby. In a second piece, Zwerling explores the key qualities of having Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd as part of their point guard rotation.
- Nets GM Billy King, who team owner Mikhail Prokhorov believes will win GM of the year, talks about his thought process while constructing this current roster and the challenges that it entailed (Roderick Boone of Newsday reports).
Atlantic Links: Nets, DiLeo, Knicks
Mikhail Prokhorov had plenty to say about the Nets at today's ribbon-cutting ceremony for Barclays Center, the team's new arena in Brooklyn. We passed along his praise of GM Billy King and coach Avery Johnson earlier, and he also made it clear that he won't let the luxury tax stop him from the pursuit of a championship, as Stefan Bondy tweeted. The Nets are already well above the tax line for this season, but in coming years, when the tax penalties grow more severe under the terms of the CBA, we'll see just how far Prokhorov is willing to reach into his deep pockets to enhance his team. The Atlantic Division is full of big spenders, and we've got more on the Nets' rivals here:
- Tony DiLeo's experience and contributions to the deals that have shaped the Sixers, including the trade that brought Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia, make his promotion to GM a shrewd move for the team, argues Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com.
- HoopsWorld's Derek Page examines whether the moves the Knicks made this offseason are enough for them to show significant improvement this year.
- Former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy also weighed in on the Knicks, expressing doubts about the team's backcourt and the ability of its frontcourt pieces to mesh to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. He also lauded the Heat's acquisitions of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and picks Miami to repeat.
Atlantic Links: Celts, Sixers, Moultrie, Smith
As if the Atlantic division didn't have a busy enough offseason, the Celtics were active again on Thursday . After waiving Keyon Dooling, who then retired, Boston signed Micah Downs to what is likely a non-guaranteed deal and gave guaranteed dollars to Darko Milicic. They now have 14 guaranteed roster spots and 19 total players in training camp. John Hollinger of ESPN gives his take, insider only, on the Celtics roster.
Surely, that couldn't have been it for the ever-changing Atlantic. Let's keep track of all the other links floating around on Thursday within the division:
- We have detailed at great length the roster overhaul that the Sixers went through this offseason. John Hollinger of ESPN breaks down their new roster for the 2012-13 seasons (Insider access only).
- Dei Lynam of CSN Philly looks at Andrew Bynum and Andre Iguodala, both of whom could be unrestricted free agents this offseason. Bynum seems like a good bet to re-sign in Philly, while the future of Iguodala, should he opt out, is far more difficult to predict.
- The ankle injury that has hobbled Sixers first round pick Arnett Moultrie for most of the summer has not progressed as well as the team has hoped, reports John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Moultrie's effectiveness is heavily reliant on his athleticism, making it crucial for him legs to be at full strength as a rookie.
- Jonathan Abrams examines the enigma that is Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith for Grantland. Smith is ultra-talented and has been productive, but for whatever reason has not been able to find a home.
- Former Knick Stephon Marbury talked all things Knickerbockers with Ian Begley of ESPN New York. Marbury questions Amare Stoudemire's ability to thrive without Steve Nash, the ownership's motives in bringing in Carmelo Anthony and the potential of the team to advance in the playoffs.
Eastern Notes: Knicks, Thibodeau, Heat, Miles
Let's round up a few Thursday afternoon updates from around the Eastern Conference:
- The Knicks are looking to sign a veteran two guard with NBA experience as insurance while Ronnie Brewer gets healthy, tweets Tommy Dee of The Knicks Blog. One candidate that pops to mind is Tracy McGrady, who worked out for the Knicks last week.
- Appearing on the Waddle & Silvy Show on ESPN Radio, Charles Barkley spoke highly of Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, saying he doesn't understand why the Bulls haven't extended him yet (link via ESPNChicago.com).
- In his latest mailbag for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Ira Winderman discusses new Heat big man Josh Harrellson, and addresses the reasons why Miami didn't sign Hassan Whiteside.
- Joe Gabriele of Cavs.com spoke to new Cavalier C.J. Miles about adjusting to Cleveland and his motivation for signing with the Cavs.
- Former Knicks guard Stephon Marbury is the latest to argue that Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire aren't a good fit on the floor together in New York, as Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com writes.
Odds & Ends: Curry, Knicks, Jones, Trail Blazers
It appears Warriors guard Stephen Curry's ankles are either 100% or very close to it. Earlier today Curry tweeted that he was finally able to participate in scrimmages with his teammates, and CSNBayArea.com's Matt Steinmetz later confirmed the tweet by writing that Curry indeed played five-on-five at the team's downtown Oakland practice facility.
Here's some other news from around the league.
- Current Nuggets forward and former member of the Knicks Danilo Gallinari said that the fact New York is rumored to bring Isiah Thomas back into their front office is why they'll never win, writes KnicksJournal.com's Keith Schlosser.
- Rockets rookie forward Terrence Jones sat down with Rockets.com's Jason Friedman for an informative Q&A.
- Houston Chronicle reporter Jonathan Feigen analyzes what San Antonio's new uniforms could mean for the rest of the league.
- SpursNation.com's Dan McCarney talks about what the recent sale of AEG might mean for some other teams across the league, including the Spurs.
- In an in-depth season preview for the loaded Northwest Division, NBA.com's John Schuhmman says that the Trail Blazers might be the worst defensive team in the entire league next year.
- Lakers head coach Mike Brown recently stated on ESPN Radio that he's excited about the upcoming season, for obvious reasons, writes ESPNLosAngeles.com.
- NBA.com's Earl K. Sneed quotes Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle as saying that this is the year Rodrigue Beaubois puts it all together.
Latest On Shawne Williams
While veteran players like Kenyon Martin and Mickael Pietrus are reportedly uninterested in signing for the minimum salary, Shawne Williams appears very open to such a deal. According to Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com, Williams would like to join the Knicks on a minimum-salary contract, but New York isn't currently interested.
The Knicks are still seeking a power forward to fill out their roster, but are targeting players like Martin and Louis Amundson rather than Williams. If those players sign elsewhere or remain out of the Knicks' price range (the team can only offer minimum-salary deals), Williams, a former Knick, may re-emerge as a potential option. In the meantime, the Hawks and Bobcats are eyeing the 26-year-old, says Zwerling.
Williams, the 17th overall pick in 2006, has seen NBA action for the Pacers, Mavericks, Knicks, and Nets since his rookie season. Most recently, after injuries cut his 2011/12 campaign short, he was dealt by the Nets to Portland, where he never played a game for the Trail Blazers. The Blazers bought Williams out earlier this summer, which could be one reason he's willing to play for a minimum salary.