Dwane Casey Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Stoudemire, Ross, Raptors

December 22nd, 2012 at 9:24pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Despite the Knicks' early season success, one important question revolves around how Amare Stoudemire will integrate himself within the team's current chemistry once he is finally ready to return from injury. With that in mind, the answer to that question will have to be put on hold a little bit longer, as Al Iannazzone of Newsday writes that Stoudemire isn't quite ready to participate in games just yet. Coach Mike Woodson, who met with his forward earlier today, said that he'd like to see Amare go through more practice time and gave the impression that a return during the team's three-game road trip was unlikely. Here's the rest of what we've heard out of the Atlantic Division tonight:

Certain players who will have an important role in how well Amare will fit in, namely Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd, appear ready for the challenge and confident about their ability to make things work, says Iannazone.
Among the brighter spots of the Raptors' five game winning streak is Terrence Ross, who coach Dwane Casey insists is earning minutes out of merit rather than an attempt to develop him (Doug Smith of TheStar.com reports).
Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun says that despite the team's hot streak, Casey has tempered the hoopla surrounding the team and remains focused on the work that still needs to be done. Also, Ganter discusses Aaron Gray's role as a viable stopgap at center while Jonas Valanciunas is out with an injury.
Ronnie Brewer has seen nearly a 33% drop in his three point percentages this month compared to November, though Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York writes that his shooting struggles aren't related to any lingering effects from the knee injury he suffered before the season started.

Atantic Notes: Casey, Teletovic, Meeks

December 16th, 2012 at 3:02pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the Atlantic Division on Sunday afternoon:

Despite rumors that Dwane Casey's job is in jeopardy, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star backs the Raptors coach and notes that perception around the league is generally optimistic about Casey and the team's future.
Mirza Teletovic was used to being the focal point of his team in Europe, so it's been a challenge for him to adjust to being on the end of the Nets' bench this season, as Newsday's Roderick Boone chronicles.
Mark Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer talks to Lakers guard Jodie Meeks, who reflects on the 76ers organization where he spent the first three seasons of his career as his new team prepares to play his former one.
Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Iman Shumpert and Amare Stoudemire are making progress toward returning to the Knicks.

Odds & Ends: Knicks, Harden, Terry, Draft

December 12th, 2012 at 10:57pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Wednesday night:

Al Iannazzone of Newsday.com writes that Mike Woodson has been more successful at coaching Carmelo Anthony than Mike D'Antoni was.
James Harden was indifferent in his reaction to reports that the Wizards had rejected an offer from the Thunder to send him to Washington.
Jason Terry did not rule out a return to the Mavericks later in his career, writes Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com.
ESPN.com's Chad Ford took a variety of questions from fans relating to the 2013 NBA Draft in a live chat.
SNY.com's Adam Zagoria reports that Jabari Parker, the second-rated prospect of the 2014 Draft, is down to Duke and Michigan State in his choice of colleges.
Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reports that John Wall will have his knee re-examined on Friday.
Sam Amico of FoxSportsOhio.com writes that youth is not an excuse for the Cavs' poor play.
D.J. Augustin has been a disappointment since signing with the Pacers this summer.
Sean Michael Meager of the Oregonian has an interview with Trail Blazers rookie Will Barton about his recent D-League assignment and the adjustment from college to the NBA.
Brandon Jennings was perhaps the best player up for a rookie-scale extension who didn't get one, but he's drawing comparisons to Chris Paul and Mike Conley from Bucks coach Scott Skiles for his play this season, as Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel documents.
Stephen Curry is feeling happy with his level of play this season and is not disappointed with his contract extension, he tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

Atlantic Notes: Kidd, Amare, Bargnani, Raptors

December 12th, 2012 at 6:18pm CST by Luke Adams

After a tight intra-division game in Brooklyn last night between the Nets and Knicks, the Nets head to Toronto for a matchup with the Raptors tonight. The Air Canada Centre won't have the same energy the Barclays Center did, but at least one team will snap a long losing streak tonight — both Brooklyn and Toronto have dropped five straight games. Here are a few afternoon notes out of the Atlantic:

Tyson Chandler tells Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com that he called former Mavericks teammate Jason Kidd a few times over the summer in an attempt to recruit him to the Knicks. "I told him, 'We have some other guys that we may get in free agency, so this could be a really deep roster and we need a guy like you.'" Chandler said. "I felt like he could be the key to put us over the hump."
Kidd also said on the radio that Amare Stoudemire could be back by the end of the month, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley (via Twitter).
Andrea Bargnani has been ruled out indefinitely with an elbow injury, tweets Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. The injury will likely curb the Bargnani trade rumors and speculation at least temporarily.
There are some within the Raptors organization who say that Dwane Casey's job status has been discussed, but president Bryan Colangelo flatly denies it, says Bruce Arthur of the National Post.
Colangelo's tenures with the Suns and Raptors have been polar opposites, writes Eric Koreen of the National Post.
Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com points out that even without Andrew Bynum, the Sixers have the most wins of the four teams involved in the Dwight Howard trade this summer, a point of pride for coach Doug Collins.
Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com tweets that Collins is no longer planning to send rookie Arnett Moultrie to the D-League.

Raptors Rumors: Bargnani, Calderon, Casey

December 11th, 2012 at 8:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors fell to 4-18 on the season last night, losing by 18 points to the sub-.500 Trail Blazers. With multiple Raps leaving the game due to injury or ejection, the team mustered just 74 points, matching a season-low. Things are looking bleak in Toronto, and it's possible that changes are on the horizon. Here are a few of the latest rumblings:

The Raptors are "dangling" Andrea Bargnani as trade bait, but haven't attracted any takers so far, according to Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun (Twitter link) hears that Bargnani isn't on the trade block, but that the Raptors would listen to offers for the former No. 1 pick.
Jose Calderon has "made it clear" he wouldn't mind a trade, and team president Bryan Colangelo continues to explore possibilities on that front, says Amick.
Multiple sources tell Amick that coach Dwane Casey's job isn't in jeopardy, and that a roster move is much more likely than a coaching change. According to Amick, a trade "of some significance" may be on the horizon for the club.

Raptors Exercise Option On Dwane Casey

April 27th, 2012 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors have exercised their third-year option on coach Dwane Casey, GM Bryan Colangelo announced today (link via the team's Twitter). Casey, who just finished his first year in Toronto, was already under contract for 2012/13, so the option exercised is for the 2013/14 season.

In his first year as the Raptors' coach, Casey led the team to just a 23-43 record, but the club made noticeable steps forward, particularly on defense. The Raptors were a top-ten team in opponents' PPG and ranked 12th in the NBA in defensive efficiency, behind 11 playoff squads. Given the job Casey did with the roster he had, the decision to exercise his option was a good one, and not a surprise.

"Dwane did a terrific job this year of adhering to our plan of growth and development for this young team," Colangelo said, in a team release. "We set out to change the culture and improve defensively and he orchestrated both progressions in an impressive fashion."

Colangelo also has a contract option for 2013/14, but the Raptors have yet to make a formal decision on it.