Atlantic Notes: Bargnani, Odom, Nets, Woodson
The Celtics look to move one step closer to clinching the Atlantic Division and first-round home-court advantage when they play the shorthanded Raptors in Toronto tonight. Here's the latest on Toronto and a few other Atlantic teams:
- Andrea Bargnani will be shut down for the season with a left calf injury, the Raptors announced today in a team release. Considering where the team sits in the standings, the decision likely has as much to do with securing a good draft pick as it does with Bargnani's calf.
- The Mavericks could potentially have avoided a good deal of drama if the Lakers' trade for Chris Paul had gone through in December. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, Lamar Odom would have been sent to the Nets if that Paul deal had gone through. The Hornets, knowing Odom wouldn't be happy in New Orleans, had a deal in place to trade Odom for a future first-round pick, says Stein.
- Nets coach Avery Johnson had a two-hour meeting with majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov this week about the future of the team, writes Fred Kerber of the New York Post.
- Making Mike Woodson the full-time coach rather than bringing in a big-name candidate this summer would give the Knicks a chance for stability, says Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Odds & Ends: Smith, Olympics, Anthony
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel took some time to shed some light on Magic guard Ishmael Smith after his standout performance against the Pistons on Monday. In a separate piece, Schmitz outlines the uphill battle Orlando faces as they look to clinch a playoff spot. Six of their last eight games are against above-.500 teams, and four of those games are on the road.
- If Ray Allen and Dwyane Wade could have things their way, players on the USA basketball team would be compensated for their participation in the Olympics. While Allen sees it as a matter of opportunity cost, Wade focused more on the jersey sales and summer commitment aspect of it (Scott Gleeson of USA Today reports). According to Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports, Team USA Chairman Jerry Colangelo responded to their comments, saying: "It’s never been discussed and it’s not even feasible in the reality of economics."
- Jim Cavan of the New York Times examines the emergence of Carmelo Anthony after being moved to the power forward slot as well as the role it has played in the Knicks' recent success. If New York can hang onto a playoff spot and Amare Stoudemire is cleared to play, it will be interesting to see how Anthony will translate that success at the small forward position with Amare in the lineup.
- The Kings team owners will make a case to the NBA Board of Governors in New York that the plan to finance a new arena in Sacramento needs more negotiating, writes Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee.
- Gilbert Arenas tells J. Michael Falgoust of USA Today that he is happy to be out of the spotlight in Memphis as he looks to move forward from his troubled past.
Odds & Ends: Odom, Bucks, Knicks, Hudson
- With Lamar Odom set to be listed as inactive for the remainder of the season, the question becomes where the former Rhode Island star will end up next year, ponders Chuck Schilken of the Los Angeles Times. Schilken checks in with a series of different sports writers from around the Tribune Co. family of newspapers and finds two teams (both hailing from Los Angeles) that may prove to be a good fit for the beleaguered forward. Even though Odom had a rough stretch with the Mavs, he is still only one season removed from being the most productive sixth man in the league.
- Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel writes Wednesday night's matchup against the Knicks is the most important game of the Bucks' entire season. A victory by the Bucks over the Knicks would give Milwaukee a head-to-head playoff tiebreaker in the case both teams finish with the same record. While the Bucks are currently on the outside of the playoff picture looking up at the Sixers and Knicks, the team does have the least difficult schedule remaining out of the three teams.
- Forget Phil Jackson and John Calipari for the Knicks head coaching job, says ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard, especially if the Knicks can make a run in the playoffs. Broussard thinks Mike Woodson can remain the coach in New York if he can get his team to challenge the Bulls or the Heat and make the first round of the playoffs competitive. Woodson has done an excellent job of inspiring his team to play strong defense, maximizing the offensive output of Carmelo Anthony and fostering the growth of rookie guard Iman Shumpert.
- The signing of Lester Hudson from the NBA D-League marks one of the best moves the Cavaliers have made this season, writes FOXSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico. After scoring 49 total points in his last two games, Hudson added another 25 points Tuesday night against the Bobcats. What impresses Amico most is how Hudson has provided a boost off of the bench late in the game as the former Celtics second-round draft pick has scored 32 total points in the fourth quarter of the past two games.
Deveney On Knicks, Sixers, Bucks
With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Sixers, Knicks and Bucks remain in the hunt for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, the Knicks would take the seventh seed, the Sixers sneaking into the playoffs as the eighth seed and the Bucks would be vacationing earlier than desired as they would miss the cut as one of the top eight teams in the conference. Sean Deveney of Sporting News looks at the three teams on the playoff bubble and examines what's at stake for each respective franchise.
- Missing the playoffs would be damaging for the Knicks' reputation as a franchise and further dismay a fan base hungry for a team ready to challenge for a championship. Expectations have continued to increase in New York ever since the arrivals of Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, even though the trio may not be the perfect match for each other. Unfortunately for New York fans, the Knicks have only made the playoffs twice since 2001 and both times were swept in the first round including last season against the Celtics.
- If the Sixers complete their collapse and end up on the outside of the playoff picture, head coach Doug Collins may find himself reexamining his position with the club. After getting off to a strong start thanks to the league's top defense based on points allowed per game, the Sixers have continued to struggle offensively and lack consistency from their starting lineup. While Collins still has two years remaining on his contract and the backing of the Sixers ownership, the head coach may walk away from the job if the players cannot respond to his style of tutelage.
- John Hammond's future as the Bucks' general manager would become less likely to continue if the team fails to make the playoffs this season. Over the course of his tenure with the Bucks, Hammond has exhibited quality decision-making in his drafting of Brandon Jennings, but has made questionable choices including the decision to take Joe Alexander in the 2008 draft. Deveney says simply making the playoffs for the second time during his stint in Milwaukee should be good enough to keep Hammond employed with the Bucks.
Minor Moves: Chris Wright, Jerome Jordan
We'll track today's notable international and D-League-related transactions right here:
- Chris Wright has been assigned by the Warriors to the D-League's Dakota Wizards, according to a team press release. Golden State recalled Wright for a second time last Wednesday, but he'll head back to Dakota to join the team for its playoff series against the Bakersfield Jam.
- The Knicks have reassigned Jerome Jordan to the Erie BayHawks, their D-League affiliate, according to the team's official Twitter account. New York has previously assigned Jordan to Erie in January and March, so this is the last time this season he can be sent down this year. The BayHawks' season could be nearing its end anyway — they'll face the Austin Toros in the playoffs starting this weekend.
Odds & Ends: Howard, Magic, Odom, Celtics
Its been a rocky few weeks in Orlando, but you wouldn’t know it by the result of tonight’s contest against the Pistons. The Magic blew out Detroit, 119-89, without the services of Dwight Howard. Here’s more on the Central Florida soap opera and other items from around the Association..
- Magic senior vice president Pat Williams, who helped found the franchise in 1989, says that he believes that coach Stan Van Gundy and Howard can co-exist in Orlando, according to the Associated Press.
- Adding Lamar Odom would make the Knicks instant title contenders in 2013, but there are a number of hurdles the club will have to clear in order to make that happen, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
- In less than a month, the Celtics have gone from rebuilding mode to title contention, writes Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
- Thomas Robinson would be a tremendous fit for the Bobcats, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
- Texas A&M junior Khris Middleton announced that he will enter the draft, according to the AP. The small forward started 72 games in three seasons with the Aggies.
Odds & Ends: Odom, Knicks, Griffin
ESPNChicago.com's Nick Friedell tweets that the Bulls are 19-0 when scoring 100 points or more on the season. Tom Thibodeau's squad will take their talents to Madison Square Garden this afternoon where they'll face a defensive-minded Knicks team fighting for their playoff lives. As the Knicks embark upon one of their toughest stretches as they close out the season, we look around the league to catch up on the latest news and happenings.
- The Mavs' ability to rely on anyone and everyone to contribute in a victory has taken a hit this season thanks to the disappointing play of offseason acquisition Lamar Odom. Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com wonders if Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle and the rest of his team have given up on Odom, who has been afforded myriad opportunities to prove himself as a legitimate contributor to the squad's success. The former Rhode Island star, 32, is currently averaging 6.6. PPG and 4.2 RPG, both career lows, through 50 games with the Mavericks.
- While the Knicks could probably use more depth at the point guard or power forward addition, the team did bring back a famous big man to help assist with player and community relations, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Larry Johnson, or more affectionately dubbed "Grandmama," was an integral part of the talented Knicks teams from the mid-to-late 90s after arriving from the Hornets in the summer of 1996. The addition of the former four-time Knicks captain follows New York's recent trend of adding former players to the team's staff.
- Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld wonders if Lob City superstar Blake Griffin can continue to improve like fellow Western Conference power forward Kevin Love. While Griffin's points per game and rebounds per game are down as compared to his rookie season, Brigham points out that Griffin's PER has improved from 21.9 to 22.9, perhaps as a result of key offseason acquisition Chris Paul's ability to maximize the production of his fellow teammates. Brigham suggests the addition of a reliable jump shot and improved defense as two areas where the already-dominant Griffin could work on to take his game to the next level.
Iannazzone on Chandler, Calipari, Playoffs
In what could be a preview of a first-round matchup in this year's Eastern Conference playoffs, the Bulls and Knicks will begin a home-and-home series on Sunday in New York. Carmelo Anthony understands those implications and views these next two games as playoff games, according to Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog.com. Al Iannazzone of Newsday also offered some input about the Knicks tonight, and here's his latest work out of the Big Apple:
- Contrary to Anthony's claim that Tyson Chandler is playing with a fractured hand, the team's starting center refuted the notion but did imply that he is playing through inexplicable pain.
- John Calipari could be a legitimate candidate to coach the Knicks next season, says Iannazone, and cites Calipari's ties to the Creative Artists Agency (which has affiliations to people within Knicks management and with whom Carmelo is also a client) as a possible factor.
- In a separate piece, Iannazone looks at the challenge of the next 11 games for the Knicks as it relates to their push to make the playoffs while facing a daunting schedule.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Steve Novak
Back in December of 2011, the Knicks were able to pry Tyson Chandler away from the world champion Mavericks after Dallas was unable to make a more lucrative and long-term contract offer to the 7'1'' center. In July, the Knicks could face a similar scenario with sharpshooting forward Steve Novak, who becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. This is not to imply that Novak's value is equivalent to that of a player such as Chandler or that he undoubtedly deserves to have teams clamoring to outbid each other for his services. However, his performance this season should not go unwarranted nor his impact in free agency be ignored.
In 17.6 MPG off of the bench, Novak averages 8.5 PPG while shooting a league-best 47.9% from three-point range on 5 attempted threes per game. He has hit at least four long-range shots in 13 of his 43 games as a Knick and has had some standout three-point shooting performances this year: 6-for-10 against Portland, 5-for-8 against Utah, 5-for-9 at Toronto, 4-for-5 against Dallas, 5-for-10 against Atlanta, 4-for-5 at Miami, and 4-for-7 at Boston to name a few. At 6'10'' and with a cat-quick release on his shot, Novak could arguably be among the top utility players to hit the free agent market this summer.
I would expect that that the Knicks would do everything in their power to retain their ace-shooter, however history has shown that shooting specialists can get paid handsomely. Kyle Korver, off of his third year as a member of the Utah Jazz, accepted a 3-year, 15 MM offer from the Chicago Bulls after the 2010 season in which he shot 53.6% from deep en route to 7.2 PPG in 18.3 MPG. Just half a season removed from winning the inaugural 3-point shooting competition during All-Star weekend as a member of the Miami Heat, forward Jason Kapono agreed to a four-year, 24 MM offer with the Raptors in 2007. Kapono boasted averages of 10.9 PPG while shooting 51.3% from three with the Heat during the 2006-07 season.
The Knicks, who are only armed with their mid-level exception, bi-annual exception, and the veteran's minimum this summer, will also have to handle the contract statuses of Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis, and Jared Jeffries in addition to Novak. Should New York find itself using most of their mid-level to retain Lin, they may not have enough to entice Novak to stay if he receives a more lucrative offer elsewhere.
Also, if the bi-annual exception maintains its value at around 2.18 MM this summer, other teams who possess the mid-level exception or even the mini-mid level exception of about 3 MM per year (for luxury tax-paying teams) are still in a position financially to make a better offer. Outside shooting will always be in demand in the NBA, so while there may not currently be an explicit list of teams that have Novak on their radar, it will be an intriguing development to follow in July, especially for Knicks fans.
Knicks Notes: Point Guards, Douglas, Thomas
The Knicks find themselves with a mini-break after handling the Magic on Thursday night with a 96-80 victory. They'll be back in action on Sunday and led by a familiar face at the point. More on that and other items out of MSG..
- Coach Mike Woodson says the team will not add a point guard, reports Jacob Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. He believes the combination of Baron Davis, Toney Douglas and Mike Bibby, along with Iman Shumpert if necessary, is "plenty."
- General Manager Glen Grunwald looked to trade point guard Toney Douglas at the deadline but couldn’t find value for him as his stock had plummeted, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Douglas has a year left on his pact at $2MM and is the only Knicks one-guard who isn’t a free agent after this season. The Florida State product is now seeing regular time due to Jeremy Lin's season-ending injury.
- Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com wonders if the Knicks might consider bringing Isiah Thomas back to New York now that he has been let go as coach of Florida International University. Begley points to owner James Dolan's admiration for the former Knicks coach/exec and his attempt to hire him as a consultant less than two years ago.
- Meanwhile, Berman doesn't expect the Knicks to offer Thomas a gig. According to sources, Dolan isn’t ready to name Thomas to a formal position, even with Donnie Walsh’s position soon coming to an end. Walsh has been granted permission by the club to explore GM opportunities elsewhere.