Odds & Ends: Cousins, Thunder, Vesely, Morris
In addtion to Steve Nash's Lakers debut tonight, another major talking point in the Pacific Division involves the Kings' suspension of DeMarcus Cousins. According to Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick of USA Today, a source close the team's plans says that the former Kentucky big man isn't untouchable. Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM feels that Sacramento and the Magic would benefit by exploring trade talks, as both have pieces that could help the other side (Twitter link). Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops also weighed in, offering four different scenarios in which the Kings could deal the fourth-year player. With that aside, here are some of the other notable stories we're hearing from the NBA this evening:
- Jim Eichenhoffer of Hornets.com tweets that Eric Gordon has been cleared for full contact practice.
- Jenni Carlson of NewsOK believes that dealing James Harden to Houston has made the Thunder a better and more fluid team, pointing to the significant increase in assist numbers by Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
- Jan Vesely has yet to earn a consistent role during a turbulent start to his second-year campaign with the struggling Wizards, writes Michael Lee of the Washington Post. “It’s tough, especially when the team is losing,” Vesely said of his current role. “Everybody try to stay positive but sometimes it’s hard. I try to practice everyday, work on my game and stay ready for my chance to play.”
- Darius Morris may not be ready for a starting job, but Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times writes about how the Lakers' sophomore guard has found a significant role in Mike D'Antoni's rotation (Sulia link).
- Two years ago and just months removed from "The Decision", Jazz guard Mo Williams (then with Cleveland) and Heat superstar LeBron James may not have necessarily been on each other's holiday greetings list. Today, Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune notes how the two former teammates had nothing but glowing remarks to say about each other heading into tonight's matchup between Utah and Miami.
Latest On Eric Gordon
Eric Gordon plans to return to practice next week for the New Orleans Hornets, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Gordon has missed the entirety of the 2012/13 season thus far with a knee injury, and appeared in just nine games in 2011/12.
Gordon reflected to Spears on his controversial free agency, in which he signed a four-year, $58MM offer sheet with the Suns and upset some Hornets fans with public comments stating his preference to play in Phoenix:
"Of course I did [regret it]," Gordon said. "But that was the only way to push the table on the Hornets. To get a deal done I was willing to negotiate. My agent and I were going through negotiations with them. But they weren't leaning into really giving me one. So I had to ride with Phoenix and from Day 1 they weren't playing games."
Hornets head coach Monty Williams did not commit to a limit on Gordon's minutes when he returns.
"We're just going to throw him out there," Williams said. "Eric is so explosive and knows how to play. I think our guys are going to gain confidence. Most of our guys have no idea [about his talent] … It's going to breed confidence in our team and they're going to understand why we paid so much money in order to get him back."
Western Rumors: Bell, Gordon, Kings
- Raja Bell is hopeful that he's nearing the end of the standoff he and the Jazz have been engaged in for months over the prospect of buyout, the veteran guard told Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune. Still, the team is giving no indication the impasse is close to resolution.
- There's no official timetable for the return of Eric Gordon, who's been rehabbing his troublesome right knee, but the Hornets shooting guard says he's "more than 90 percent sure" he'll play before New Year's Day, as John Reid of The Times-Picayune details.
- Many of the Kings are frustrated with coach Keith Smart over his benching of point guard Isaiah Thomas, according to Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com, who gives sharp criticism of the team's signing of Aaron Brooks, Thomas' replacement in the starting lineup.
- Rockets rookie Donatas Motiejunas was appreciative of the playing time he received during this weekend's D-League assignment, notes Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. "When you step on the court, you have confidence," he said. "Sitting on the bench for a longer time kills your confidence. At least (in the D-League) you get a feeling for the game."
- Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld looks at how the improvement of Derrick Favors has created a dilemma in the frontcourt for the Jazz.
- Kenneth Faried said the Blazers told him they would draft him 21st overall in 2011, and when they passed him over, allowing the Nuggets to pounce at pick No. 22, the power forward from Morehead State was upset with Portland, as he explained to The Oregonian's Jason Quick. "I ain’t going to lie to you: I don’t like them," Faried said. "I think it’s disrespectful what they did, got my hopes up for nothing. Every time we play them, it’s a little extra motivation for me to come out and show them what they missed."
Kyler On Varejao, Spurs, Gordon, Calderon
HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler took to Twitter to reveal the career-threatening nature of Al Harrington's staph infection, and he also let loose with plenty of trade rumors along the way. We'll round up the juiciest tidbits here (all links via Twitter).
- The Spurs asked the Cavs about Anderson Varejao, but talks didn't proceed too far.
- The Hornets expect Eric Gordon back around Christmas, and aren't biting on any trade offers.
- The Raptors would be a willing partner in a trade that sends Jose Calderon to the Lakers, but Kyler isn't sure the purple-and-gold would be interested.
- Kyler hears Kevin Love "isn't remotely available," echoing what Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio wrote over the weekend, in spite of Love's critical comments about the Wolves last week.
- The Thunder, at a league-best 19-4, are understandably pleased with the season thus far, and they aren't looking to make any moves at the moment. As for the future, a strong playoff run could drive up Kevin Martin's price in free agency this summer, Kyler believes.
Odds & Ends: Gordon, Lakers, Kobe, Jackson
There was a great deal of anticipation for the first ever "clash of the boroughs" after Hurricane Sandy postponed it for nearly a month and the Nets and Knicks did not disappoint. In a close contest throughout, the Nets ultimately pulled out a 96-89 overtime win on their home floor. Brook Lopez – who has taken flack for his inconsistent rebounding in the past – pulled down 11 boards and led the way with 22 points. Star guard Deron Williams also turned in a strong effort, putting up 16 points and dishing 14 dimes. Here's more from around the Association..
- Hornets guard Eric Gordon says that his knee is improving, but declined to give specifics about the mysterious injury, writes Jimmy Smith of the Times Picayune. "It's almost like a disorder. There was a little bit of a bone bruise, and, you know, kind of like some of these other guys like [Andrew] Bynum and [Danny] Granger. Luckily my process will be shorter than that," said the guard. There was speculation earlier this year that Gordon's insistence on sitting out stemmed from displeasure with the club, but Gordon insists that he's committed to the Hornets.
- Kobe Bryant has been playing extremely efficient basketball as of late and credits the system of new coach Mike D'Antoni for his improved play, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
- Speaking of the Lakers, former coach Phil Jackson told TMZ (video link) earlier today that the chances of him returning to coach again are "slim to none". Jackson, of course, was widely believed to be the frontrunner for the Lakers vacancy earlier this season before D'Antoni was tabbed to replace Mike Brown.
Hornets Notes: Carroll, Gordon
Friday morning, the New Orleans Hornets announced that they have signed GM Dell Demps to a three-year contract extension. Demps commented to the media on a few issues surrounding the team, as reported by Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune:
- The team is still working on a buyout with guard Matt Carroll, acquired earlier in the week from the Bobcats in exchange for Hakim Warrick. Demps gave no timeframe for an agreement being completed, and said Carroll is not violating any rules by having not reported to the team yet.
- Demps was noncommittal when asked about a timetable for Eric Gordon's return. While he said Gordon was working towards a return, he did not have any further details to give on his injury or the nature of the recovery process.
Injury Updates: Wall, Billups, Gordon
We don't normally report on injuries at Hoops Rumors, but when a star player goes down for a lengthy absence or the injury otherwise figures to have an impact on a team's personnel decisions, we pass along that news. Tonight we have a few updates on key figures who'll be out for a while.
- Wizards point guard John Wall was supposed to miss around eight weeks with an injury to his left patella, but now Wall says there's no target date for his return, reports Michael Lee of The Washington Post.
- Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro was hopeful last month that Chauncey Billups could return from his torn left Achilles tendon sometime in November, but Billups doesn't think he'll recover quite so quickly, saying on ESPN's NBA Countdown this evening that he hopes to be back about a month from now, as Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles writes.
- The Hornets confirmed Eric Gordon's four-to-six-week prognosis, and announced that he'll head to Los Angeles for "more personalized and intensive" rehabilitation on his troublesome right knee. John Reid of The Times-Picayune has details.
Eric Gordon Has Not Requested Trade
4:05pm: Gordon tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports that he saw a doctor in Chicago who believes the 23-year-old can return from his knee injury in four to six weeks (Twitter link). No further surgery should be required, according to Gordon (Twitter link via Spears).
2:52pm: Berger's piece, linked below, suggested that additional surgery hadn't been ruled out for Gordon's knee, and an ESPN.com report from Chris Broussard and Marc Stein this afternoon echoes that sentiment. According to Broussard and Stein, microfracture surgery has been presented as a possible solution for Gordon, though no decisions have been made yet. Gordon is scheduled to meet with a knee specialist this weekend, with a recovery plan likely finalized at some point early next week.
9:40am: As he continues to sit out with a knee injury of undetermined severity, Eric Gordon clarified last night that he's committed to the Hornets. And according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, that indeed seems to be the case. Neither Gordon nor his agent have requested a trade from the Hornets, reports Berger.
When discussing Gordon's knee issue, both the player and the team have made vague, seemingly contradictory statements, leading to speculation that the 23-year-old is still upset with the team for matching an offer sheet he signed with the Suns this summer. However, as Gordon suggested last night, Berger hears no indication from his sources that the shooting guard's goal is to get out of New Orleans.
It's possible that Gordon and his agent recognize that requesting a trade now would be futile anyway, since the Indiana product can't be dealt until January 15th. But for now, it appears that Gordon is fine with remaining a Hornet, and will simply work toward getting his knee healthy and returning to the court.
Eric Gordon Says He’s Committed To Hornets
Hornets fans received some bad news when it was announced that star guard Eric Gordon would be out for an undetermined period of time thanks to damage in his right knee. It also didn't help that GM Dell Demps was somewhat vague about Gordon's condition this week, leading to speculation that Gordon was less-than-thrilled with the organization after a tumultuous summer. However, the diminutive guard made an effort to put those concerns to rest this afternoon, writes Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune.
"This is a great city and a great organization and I definitely want to be a part of it. But being a part of it, for me, is about playing. What's (keeping) me from playing is having this injury. I'll just go on from there," Gordon said.
Over the summer, Gordon inked a four-year, $58MM offer sheet from the Suns and publicly worked to convince New Orleans not to match the offer. Even though the guard felt that "his heart" was with Phoenix at the time, the Hornets predictably matched the offer sheet to avoid losing a marquee player without any return. While Gordon clearly did not want to return to the Hornets this summer, the 23-year-old doesn't sound like a player who is angling for a way out of New Orleans.
Odds & Ends: Varejao, Harden, Chandler, Stoudemire
Here are a few bits of news on this Friday evening:
- Hoopsworld.com's Stephen Brotherston wonders if Anderson Varejao will play center for the Cavaliers this season.
- The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry tweets that he believes the chances of James Harden signing an extension with the Thunder are 0.2%.
- According to the New York Daily News' Frank Isola, Amare Stoudemire is seeking a second opinion on his knee injury, and could miss as much as a month of the season.
- On the other end of the spectrum, Knicks center Tyson Chandler is convinced he'll play on opening night after suffering a leg injury this week, writes Newsday's Al Iannazzone.
- Hornets guard Eric Gordon has spent his brief career on the sidelines with myriad of injuries. This season he looks forward to hopefully playing a full 82 games, writes Hoopsworld.com's Bill Ingram.
- The Thunder have one open position left on their opening day roster, and four players—Andy Rautins, Daniel Orton, DeAndre Liggins, and Hollis Thompson—are fighting for it, reports The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry.