Orlando Magic Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Jameer Nelson Talks Smith, Van Gundy, Howard

September 28th, 2012 at 9:31am CST by Luke Adams

Most of the Magic's offseason moves, most notably August's Dwight Howard blockbuster, indicated that the team was entering a full-on rebuilding process. However, one transaction that didn't seem to align with that approach was the team's re-signing of veteran point guard Jameer Nelson to a three-year deal that could pay him more than $25MM. Nelson will be one of the few core veteran players on a roster otherwise dominated by guys on rookie deals or bad contracts. He recently appeared on WYGM in Orlando to discuss his new role with the Magic, and Sports Radio Interviews transcribed a few of the highlights. Let's check them out….

On whether he approved of the team letting go of GM Otis Smith and head coach Stan Van Gundy:

"I’ve never said this publicly, but no, I wasn’t in favor of it. But I understand it’s a business. I had talks with Otis and Stan prior to the situation and after, so that tells you my relationship with those guys…. I just know that they put me in a great situation, being my coach and being my GM, and giving me opportunities…. But I also know that sometimes you need change and it’s not my decision to make the changes."

On his decision to re-sign with the Magic despite the looming front office and roster overhaul:

"The thing was, you have to make a business decision for yourself and your family when you’re dealing with any business…. After that, the thing I had to think about was, what’s my business going to be and where do I want to have my business? And I wouldn’t want to have it anywhere else but Orlando. I love the fans and the fans love me. They’ve definitely embraced myself and my family…. We feel like this is our home now."

On Howard being traded to the Lakers:

"He wanted a change and that’s what he got. My job, for Dwight and to Dwight, is to be a friend. I told him I was happy for him. I was happy for him to be able to move on with his career and I wished him best of luck and hoped he got his recovery and his rehab and everything went well…. We’d been together for X amount of years and it’s tough to see guys go, but like I said earlier, it’s always that business side of things."

On whether he and Howard had a falling out during Dwight's last days in Orlando:

“No. My agent actually told me that he read something saying that me and Dwight almost got into a fight and I just laughed it off. We’re grown men and anytime you’re competing, you’re going to have disagreements. That’s happened numerous amount of times and not just last year…. Everything and anything was just kind of taken out of proportion. And also we were watched closely. We never got into a scuffle, never got into a bad situation and we still remain friends to this day.”

Odds & Ends: Grizzlies, Young, Bell, Thunder

September 26th, 2012 at 10:58pm CST by Chuck Myron

Earlier today, we heard Grizzlies power forward Darrell Arthur had suffered a leg fracture, and the team's website reports the left leg injury will keep him out four to six weeks. The timetable is longer for center Hamed Haddadi, who'll be rehabbing for the next eight weeks after right thumb surgery, according to the team. Since Marreese Speights enters camp as the only healthy big man on a guaranteed deal behind Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, the injuries could represent an opportunity for camp invitees Jerome Jordan, Jarrid Famous and Michael Dunigan. Here's the rest of what's happening around the Association:

Nick Young expressed his excitement about his new Sixers teammates to reporters today, including Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com. He also spoke about how he ended up in Philadelphia. "I was shocked. I didn’t see this being one of the places I was going to come to," he said. "(Coach) Doug (Collins) called me early, 6:00am L.A. time, and we were just talking and it was a great talk. He had a good spirit to him. He talked to my dad and my mom and once my mom started raving about him that was pretty much it."
Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune hears that Raja Bell and the Jazz haven't made any progress toward a buyout with the start of training camp looming just five days from now (Twitter links).
Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman believes the Thunder are willing to become a taxpaying team to retain James Harden, but the question is just how much they're willing to dole out.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel has details on some of the 23 new members of the Magic front office, coaching and scouting staffs, including recently retired guard Anthony Parker, who'll work as a scout.
James Worthy's favorite offseason addition for the Lakers is Steve Nash, and the Hall-of-Fame forward has some strong criticism of Dwight Howard, as Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register writes.

J.J. Redick Seeks Long-Term Deal From Magic

September 23rd, 2012 at 11:28am CST by Chuck Myron

The Magic are clearly rebuilding, but J.J. Redick isn't anxious to jump to a team that's closer to winning, and has expressed his desire to stay in Orlando for the long haul to GM Rob Hennigan and coach Jacque Vaughn, reports John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com. Redick is entering the final season of a three-year, $20.19MM contract, but is ineligible for an extension since his deal is for less than four years. That means any new pact between Redick and the Magic would have to wait until next summer.

"I love playing here and I love playing for Orlando. I love representing our fans and our city," the 28-year-old shooting guard said. "But I understand it’s a transition year for our organization. I’ve had conversations with Rob and we’re both on the same page with my future going forward. I’ve given him my commitment that as long as I’m in Orlando and wearing a Magic uniform that I’m going to be a pro and give everything like I always have. He knows that and respects that and we’ll be fine."

Redick is optimistic that the team will be better than most expect, but since the Magic figure to finish at or near the bottom of the standings this season, an overachievement may still leave them well short of the playoffs. The focus is clearly on the future in Orlando following the Dwight Howard trade that brought back draft picks and cap space, but it could be multiple years before the team returns to the postseason. Still, it seemed apparent Howard was on his way out of town when Jameer Nelson re-signed with the Magic for another three years this summer, so Redick isn't the only veteran willing to stick around.

The Magic may have other plans, as they're reportedly looking to trade some of their vets. Since Redick is ineligible for an extension, he'll spend the whole season on an expiring contract, which makes him an attractive trade chip. Even if he remains on the club for all of 2012/13, the Magic may be hesitant to tie up some of its cap space with him, unless he's willing to sign at a discount or come back on either a one- or two-year-deal.

There's a touch of irony that Redick wants to stay with the Magic now that they're expected to lose a lot of games, since he signed his existing contract as an offer sheet from the Bulls in 2010, one year after the Magic made the NBA Finals. The Magic matched the offer sheet that summer, and elected to retain him this offseason rather than waive him before the final year of his deal, worth $6.19MM, became guaranteed. Redick, whom the Magic drafted 11th overall in 2006, averaged 11.6 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds with a 15.1 PER last season, all of which are career highs. He started 22 games, the first time he's started more than nine games in any season.

Southeast Rumors: Heat, Dooling, Carter, Magic

September 22nd, 2012 at 2:34pm CST by Chuck Myron

The defending champion Heat have been in the news a lot over the summer, and today is no exception, as the agent for former Celtics guard Keyon Dooling denied a report that his client is reconsidering his decision to retire and wants to play with Miami. If that report were true, and Dooling wound up joining the Heat, it's safe to say the Boston-Miami rivalry would become the league's most intense, if it isn't already at that point. Ira Winderman points out that Udonis Haslem has already reached out to new teammate Ray Allen to smooth over any hard feelings that might have been lingering from Allen's time with the Celtics (Sulia link). While the Heat might look out of the Southeast Division for their chief rivalry, the rest of the division's teams would probably like nothing more than to score at least one win against the Heat this year. Here's the latest from the Southeast.

Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida says he's received an email from Dooling that seconds his agent's denial of the report that he might come back (Sulia link). "No truth!'' Dooling wrote. "I will never play NBA ball again.''

Earlier updates:

Amidst notes on the Raptors, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star reveals that the Magic interviewed former Toronto head man Butch Carter for the coaching job that wound up going to Jacque Vaughn.
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, in the same report that links Dooling to the Heat, says some of the Magic's veterans, principally Al Harrington, will be on the trading block. He says the team will likely try to move Harrington at the deadline for an expiring contract, draft picks or both as it continues its rebuild.
GM Rob Hennigan has also been retooling the Magic basketball operations department, as Schmitz writes in the same piece, having hired 23 new employees.
HoopsWorld writers preview the Hawks, and while they conclude the team figures to be the second best in the division, Atlanta will remain in transition as GM Danny Ferry plots how to manage the financial flexibility he obtained this summer.

Eastern Notes: Magic, Sixers, Nets, Celtics

September 21st, 2012 at 5:24pm CST by Luke Adams

The biggest NBA news of the day so far has come out of Philadelphia, where the 76ers are announced Tony DiLeo's promotion to general manger. SI.com's Sam Amick has a few additional details on the move, including some other names that the Sixers pursued. According to Amick, the Sixers were turned down when they asked permission to speak to Jazz executive Kevin O'Connor and Thunder exec Troy Weaver. Here are a few more Friday notes out of the Eastern Conference:

Harkless' and Smith's injuries will not be healed in time for the regular season, keeping them out of the Magic lineup until mid-November, Schmitz writes, updating his earlier tweet (below).

Earlier updates:

Amick adds that the 76ers may still hire a more analytically-inclined executive to work alongside DiLeo in the Philadelphia front office.
Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov had praise for GM Billy King and coach Avery Johnson, whose contracts are set to expire at season's end. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News passes along Prokhorov's quotes in a pair of tweets.
Al Harrington, Maurice Harkless, and Ish Smith, all recovering from offseason surgery, are expected to miss training camp, tweets Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. All three players were added by the Magic this summer.
J.J. Redick understands that the Magic are in a transition year, but says he loves playing in Orlando and that he and GM Rob Hennigan are "on the same page" when it comes to his future (Twitter links via John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com).
A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com looks into which Celtics on non-guaranteed contracts are the best bets to earn a roster spot, concluding that Dionte Christmas is a clear-cut favourite.
Raja Bell tells Andy Slater of 640 AM Sports in Miami that the Heat would be his first choice in free agency if he can work out a buyout with the Jazz (Sulia link via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel).
In his latest mailbag for the Sun Sentinel, Winderman debates whether the Heat or Celtics had the better offseason and examines where Miami's roster stands.

Free Agent Notes: Spurs, Pargo, Aguilar, Kennedy

September 20th, 2012 at 1:33pm CST by Luke Adams

The Spurs worked out unrestricted free agents Tracy McGrady and Josh Howard recently, and while San Antonio may not sign either player, the team has a history of signing veteran free agents, says LeAnna Kosub of the San Antonio Express-News. In a lengthy list, Kosub recalls some of the Spurs' more memorable veteran acquisitions, including Robert Horry, Michael Finley, and Antonio McDyess. As McGrady and Howard continue to look for work, here's the latest on a few other free agents that also remain unsigned:

Jannero Pargo is in discussions with a few NBA teams, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Shams Charania of RealGM.com. Pargo, who ranks among the top scorers, shooters, and distributors still on the free agent market, hopes to sign an NBA deal before training camps begin.
Last Tuesday, we heard that former Philippine Basketball Association first overall pick Japeth Aguilar had a workout scheduled with the Spurs and was trying to line one up with the Magic. Now, Joseph Pimentel of ABS-CBN News reports that two NBA teams have contacted Aguilar's agent about the 6'9" forward. The description of the teams (one Eastern Conference club and one Western team that's a "top-five" squad) seems to fit the Magic and Spurs, but the report suggests that these potential suitors are different from the two that worked out Aguilar last week. Either way, the 25-year-old is hoping to earn a training-camp invite in the coming weeks.
D.J. Kennedy isn't technically a free agent yet, but after being waived by the Grizzlies, he's expected to clear waivers and hit unrestricted free agency. Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside wonders if a return to the D-League is in the cards for Kennedy.

Odds & Ends: Bucks, Wolves, McGee, Cook, Mavs

September 18th, 2012 at 11:18pm CST by Chuck Myron

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel checks in with several Bucks who are working out prior to the opening of training camp. Joining the workout are a few hopefuls who are auditioning for a formal invitation to camp, and that group includes Alando Tucker, the 29th overall pick in the 2007 draft, and Orien Greene, a four-year NBA vet who last played with the Nets in 2010/11. It's been a busy night as teams make their final moves before training camp, and we've got several more tidbits here:

Chase Budinger might be new to Minnesota, but he's no stranger to the Wolves coaching staff, having played under coach Rick Adelman and some of his assistants while they were together with the Rockets, Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune writes.
In the same piece, Zgoda adds Anthony Tolliver to the list of players whose agents remain in contact with Wolves GM David Kahn. Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 reported earlier that Kahn was talking to the representatives of Hassan Whiteside and Sean Williams.
Hakeem Olajuwon has worked with several NBA players, but none have spent more time under his tutelage than JaVale McGee, who re-signed with the Nuggets this summer on a four-year, $44MM deal, as Chris Broussard of ESPN.com writes (Insider only).
Brian Cook, who re-signed with the Wizards today, was initially apprehensive about getting sent to Washington from the playoff-bound Clippers in a deadline deal last season, but was quickly sold on the move when he realized his new teammates wanted to win, as Michael Lee of The Washington Post notes.
Wendell Maxey of Ridiculous Upside looks at Josh Akognon's circuitous journey to Mavericks training camp. The 5'11" point guard is set to join the Mavs, likely on a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal.
Mark Montieth of Pacers.com examines the basketball roots of Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard, an Indiana native who played under former Pacers coach Larry Brown in college.
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel gives his take on the alliance of Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard, who are supporting the same local political issue in Orlando months after their acrimonious departures from the Magic.
The company that owns the Staples Center, home of the Lakers and Clippers, is up for sale, as Walter Hamilton of the Los Angeles Times writes.

Odds & Ends: Heat, T-Wolves, Hudson, Grizzlies

September 18th, 2012 at 4:31pm CST by Luke Adams

After weeks of consideration, the Heat appeared to conclude their hunt for a big man yesterday, inking Josh Harrellson to a non-guaranteed deal. Another team that has long been eyeing free agent bigs, the Timberwolves, continued their search today. According to Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 (via Twitter), Wolves GM David Kahn is still talking to agents, with Hassan Whiteside, Sean Williams, and others believed to be in the mix. That's one of a handful of today's odds and ends that we've yet to cover, so let's round up the rest….

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel fielded questions in his mailbag about how the signing of Harrellson would affect the Heat's roster and rotation.
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio follows up his tweet on Lester Hudson from earlier today with a full story on Hudson's agency letting him go when he failed to attend a workout with the Bobcats. "The Bobcats ended up eating a ticket for $750," said agent Tyler Glass. "I worked so hard to get him a workout, and he didn’t show. The Bobcats were annoyed and they should have been. They’re a professional organization. You don’t skip out on workouts…. He really can play in the league. But what happened with the Bobcats… Word gets around."
Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld makes his picks for the offseason's most underrated acquisitions.
The sale of the Grizzlies to Robert Pera continued to move in the right direction today, as Memphis City Council approved transfer of the city's agreement with ownership. Amos Maki of the Memphis Commercial Appeal has the details.
With Dwight Howard no longer a distraction, the Magic are excited about their new direction, writes John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com.

Southeast Notes: Magic, Hawks, Williams, Heat

September 17th, 2012 at 9:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the latest out of the Southeast Division..

The Magic are a prime candidate to experience a significant slide in 2012/13, writes Sam Amico of FOXSportsOhio.com. Newly-acquired players Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga and rookie Moe Harkless will make up most of the team’s core and could result in Orlando finishing dead-last in the league. Amico also sees the Hawks taking a significant step back as they enter a quasi-rebuilding phase, though he believes that they will be better for it in the long run.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (via Twitter) believes that the recently-waived Jordan Williams will not be out of work for long. I’m inclined to agree as the University of Maryland demonstrated toughness and solid rebounding ability in his limited minutes for the Nets last season. Williams received a buyout from Atlanta on his modest $762K salary for 2012/13.
Despite the talk of Dexter Pittman‘s spot with the Heat being in jeopardy this season, one teammate told Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel (via Twitter) that he appears to be in better shape than ever before. Earlier today, the Heat officially signed fellow center Josh Harrellson to bring the club’s roster to 18 players.

Possible Fits For Jonny Flynn

September 17th, 2012 at 12:21pm CST by Luke Adams

It was just three years ago that the Timberwolves selected Jonny Flynn sixth overall in the 2009 NBA draft, one spot after the team nabbed Ricky Rubio. At the time, the Rubio choice raised some eyebrows, as the Spaniard point guard decided to continue his career overseas, expressing a reluctance to play in Minnesota. This past season, however, Rubio arrived in Minnesota and provided the type of production the T-Wolves had hoped for, averaging 10.6 points and 8.2 assists per game before going down with an ACL injury.

As Rubio emerged as the point guard of the future in Minnesota, Flynn spent the season playing for the Rockets and Trail Blazers. With the Rockets having declined his fourth-year option, Flynn was essentially in a contract year, and didn't do a whole lot to raise his stock, recording career-lows in FG% (.351), PPG (4.5), and a handful of other categories, while averaging just 14.3 MPG in 29 contests.

On the surface, Flynn looks like a bust. It's not clear whether he'll even receive an NBA contract this year. But even in his disappointing 2011/12 season, there were a few indications that he could be worth a flier. His 8.3 assists per 36 minutes were a career-high, and was by far the best assist rate of any free agent still on the market. Additionally, his numbers became more respectable after his move to Portland, where he played 18 games, averaging 5.2 points, 3.8 assists, and a 12.3 PER in 15.6 minutes per contest for the Blazers.

Those numbers aren't fantastic by any means, but for a player that's still just 23 years old and could have a good deal of upside, they should intrigue teams still in need of a third point guard. At this point, most contracts being signed are non-guaranteed or partially-guaranteed minimum salary deals, a price that would make it worthwhile to roll the dice on Flynn. So what teams could be a fit for him? Here are a few ideas:

Bucks: Milwaukee's roster is forward-heavy, with only Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, Beno Udrih, and Doron Lamb in the backcourt. A trade may be more likely than a free agent signing, but Flynn could be one target for depth.
Cavaliers: The Cavs reportedly had interest in Flynn and worked him out in July. They've picked up Jeremy Pargo since then, but both Pargo and Donald Sloan, who is on a non-guaranteed deal, made their NBA debuts within the last year. It remains to be seen whether either player is ready to assume the role of Kyrie Irving's backup.
Hawks: Atlanta is another team that worked out Flynn earlier in the offseason, and could still use him. The Hawks have Jeff Teague and Devin Harris at the point, but may need a third option, particularly if that duo spends time on the court together.
Heat: While Miami continues to focus on finding a big man, the team's point guard duo of Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole doesn't give them much depth in case of an injury.
Hornets: If Austin Rivers and Greivis Vasquez can capably handle the point, New Orleans may not have a need there, especially if Brian Roberts makes the team. But none of those guys are sure things, so further insurance may be required.
Magic: Jameer Nelson is locked in as the starter in Orlando, but he only has Ish Smith backing him up. Even if the Magic are confident in Smith as Nelson's backup, I'd be surprised if they didn't bring at least one more point guard to training camp.
Pistons: Like the Bucks, the Pistons are loaded with frontcourt players, making a trade the preferred route for acquiring backcourt help. If they can't find a trade partner, the Pistons could look to free agency to bolster a point guard spot that features only Brandon Knight and Will Bynum. But with 15 guaranteed contracts already on the books, it's a long shot.