Suns Notes: O’Neal, Scola, Cap Space
The Suns officially finalized their signing of Jermaine O'Neal today, and the veteran big man appears excited about the opportunity to spend the season in Phoenix. According to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, O'Neal chose the Suns because he thought he could "go there and be happy playing basketball again." O'Neal added that his health has improved significantly and that he aims to be an impact player this season (Twitter links).
Coro also published a column last night in which he hears from GM Lance Blanks about the team's summer makeover, so let's check out the highlights from that piece:
- With the Suns seeking a commitment to the franchise from players they target, all of the club's new players had Phoenix as their first choice, says Blanks.
- Blanks on his expectations for the coming season: "We're still in an extended honeymoon. I'm cautiously optimistic about the season. I don't think this is a team you want do much predicting with in terms of numbers. What I can see in the future for this team this year is a team that is fun to watch and plays hard every night. It is a group of guys who will play together because of the type of guys they are."
- Blanks praised Luis Scola's "griminess and crustiness" and said the former Rocket will provide a good example for younger players.
- The Suns will have about $7MM in cap space for an in-season move, and could have about $15MM in space next summer. Blanks stressed the importance of maintaining that financial flexibility, since the team's next star could come via the draft, a trade, or free agency.
Suns Sign Jermaine O’Neal
WEDNESDAY, 11:13am: The Suns have officially signed O'Neal, the team announced in a press release. According to Coro, the deal is for one year at the veteran's minimum ($1,352,181).
FRIDAY, 3:54pm: The Suns have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent big man Jermaine O'Neal, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). Salary details aren't yet known, but I'd be surprised if O'Neal was able to land more than the veteran's minimum.
A report earlier this week suggested that "winning a championship is the only goal" for O'Neal, so perhaps he's more bullish on the Suns' short-term prospects than most. Coro suggested as recently as this morning that O'Neal seemed like a long shot for Phoenix, given his desire to play for a contender, so perhaps the Suns were the only team showing serious interest in acquiring the 33-year-old.
The Lakers and Bucks were among the other teams that had watched O'Neal work out this summer. In 25 contests in 2011/12 for the Celtics, the 16-year veteran averaged 5.0 PPG and 5.4 RPG in 22.8 MPG before wrist surgery cut his season short. Given the reputation of the training staff in Phoenix, the Suns may believe they'll be able to keep O'Neal healthier in 2012/13.
Kennedy On McGrady, Martin, O’Neal, Arenas
It wasn't long ago that we heard the Bulls had some interest in signing Tracy McGrady, but that possibility no longer appears realistic. After signing first-round pick Marquis Teague, the Bulls are only about $758K under their hard cap line, meaning a veteran's minimum contract for McGrady wouldn't fit unless the team traded another player. Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld confirms that the two sides are no longer talking, and says McGrady will continue weighing his options in hopes of joining a contender. Here are a few more updates from Kennedy on some unsigned veterans:
- Kenyon Martin is talking with several teams, and while he doesn't want to sign for the veteran's minimum, he may end up having no choice, says Kennedy.
- Jermaine O'Neal says "winning a championship is the only goal," and would like to join a contending team on a minimum-salary deal. The Lakers, Bucks, and Suns have watched him work out.
- Sources close to Gilbert Arenas say that he's slimmed down and is fully healthy as he searches for an NBA contract.
- Ben Wallace still hasn't made up his mind about whether to retire or return to the Pistons for one more year. A decision is expected within the next few weeks.
- There's no timetable on Josh Howard's free agent decision, but it sounds like he's close to picking a destination. We heard last week that Howard had narrowed his options to five teams.
Odds & Ends: International, Celtics, Sixers, Heat
As Olympic basketball is underway this Saturday morning, Hoopsworld.com's Alex Raskin takes a look at a few international prospects who could someday make it to the NBA.
Here's a look around the rest of the league.
- With almost all of the market's free agents already signed to contracts, Hoopsworld.com's Lang Green takes a look at a few unsigned players, such as Andray Blatche, Jermaine O'Neal, and Carlos Delfino, who could still have an impact next season.
- CSNPhilly.com has a piece asking whether or not the Sixers, a team that was minutes away from an Eastern Conference finals berth a few months ago, have an uncertain season ahead of them.
- ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg writes that the Celtics have done a great job of re-tooling their roster in spite of Ray Allen's departure.
- Sun-Sentinel.com's Ira Winderman explores Heat president Pat Riley's recent comments regarding the belief that his team doesn't need a true, dependable center. Is Riley right?
- NBA.com's Josh Cohen writes that no matter what the Magic do moving forward, they shouldn't rush any important decisions.
Free Agent Rumors: O’Neal, Bulls, Wallace
The Spurs have made a handful of signings so far this summer, but every contract agreement they've reached has been for one of their own players — unrestricted free agents Tim Duncan and Boris Diaw will return, along with restricted free agents Danny Green and Patty Mills. Even the team's one new addition, Nando De Colo, wasn't a free agent, since San Antonio held his NBA rights exclusively. The Spurs are standing relatively pat this offseason, not pursuing outside free agents, and that's just fine with coach Gregg Popovich, as he tells Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
So while the remaining free agents on the market aren't likely to draw a ton of interest from San Antonio, there are plenty of other potential destinations out there. Here's the latest on a few available players:
- The Bucks are taking a "long look" at Jermaine O'Neal's workout today, tweets Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.
Earlier updates:
- The Bulls are eyeing shooting guards such as Marco Belinelli, Randy Foye, Delonte West, and Willie Green, according to Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com.
- Despite indicating earlier this year that he intended to retire, Ben Wallace would like to return to the Pistons for the 2012/13 season, says Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News. The Pistons have a full roster, so they'd have to make a move to clear a spot to sign the unrestricted free agent.
- The Warriors and Bobcats are still pursuing Carl Landry, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Charlotte, which could offer Landry more money, is attempting to work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Hornets.
- A number of teams have expressed interest in Mickael Pietrus, but the Celtics are still "very much in the picture," says A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com adds (via Twitter) that Pietrus has a "huge" offer from an overseas team, but that he wants to play for an NBA contender on more than a minimum-salary deal.
- The Clippers have reached out to Ryan Hollins and Darko Milicic, in hopes of adding a backup big man for the minimum salary, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Darko's agent Marc Cornstein says playing time will be a bigger factor for his client than money, since the Timberwolves are still sending him pay checks.
- A big-name free agent came off the market yesterday when the Trail Blazers matched Nicolas Batum's offer sheet. As Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld writes, Blazers GM Neil Olshey stressed that reports suggesting Batum didn't want to return to Portland were orchestrated by the Timberwolves and Batum's agent. "Nic never said that," Olshey said. "Let’s be very clear. Nic made a couple of comments at the behest of the Minnesota Timberwolves and his agent. That was their agenda; it was never Nicolas’s agenda."
Odds & Ends: Gordon, Cavaliers, Vazquez
- Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago discusses why the Bulls' title window will shrink over the next two seasons.
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer describes the progress that Byron Mullens appears to be making with the Bobcats based on his performances at the Las Vegas Summer League.
- 76ers head coach Doug Collins says he feels "very good" about what the team has accomplished during this offseason, writes John Gonzalez of CSNPhilly.com.
Lakers Rumors: Rush, Jamison, O’Neal, Hill
While Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reported yesterday that Antawn Jamison had decided to sign with the Lakers, GM Mitch Kupchak told Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com that nothing was imminent on that front quite yet. If Jamison finalizes a deal with the Lakers, it may have to be for the veteran's minimum, as Kupchak confirmed to ESPNLA that the team doesn't plan to use its $3.09MM mini mid-level exception to fill out its bench. Here are a few more Lakers notes, mostly from McMenamin:
- In addition to Jermaine O'Neal, Brandon Rush is also working out for the Lakers today, says Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. However, the Warriors are expected to match any "reasonable offer" for their restricted free agent (Twitter links).
Earlier updates:
Lakers Eyeing Jamison, Brand, Jermaine O’Neal
Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles reports that the Lakers are in the market for big men, with Antawn Jamison, Elton Brand, and Jermaine O'Neal on their short list of targets. While the team is still currently in negotiations with Jordan Hill, they also hope that the above listed players would be available for the veteran's minimum. Although the Lakers still have their $3MM mid-level exception to use, they would prefer to set it aside in the event that a deal for Dwight Howard gets done and a glaring void consequently arises.
Odds & Ends: O’Neal, Warriors, Lillard, Bosh
Former Celtics center Jermaine O'Neal is in Germany to undergo platelet-rich plasma therapy on his knee, the same procedure Kobe Bryant had last summer, tweets Hoopsworld.com's Alex Kennedy.
Celtics Sign Sean Williams, Waive Jermaine O’Neal
6:36pm: Williams joined his new teammates at shootaround today. The BC product told the Boston Herald that he likes Boston and that he has matured since he was suspended twice in college:
“It’s not about my career – it’s more about my life and getting better in everything. All of your experiences, you take them with you. Hopefully you make the best out of the next step you take, every day.
“I like Boston. In the league you get to know everybody pretty well. I played summer ball with some of the guys, and I played with Keyon (Dooling) in New Jersey. Just try to come in and get to know everybody, get a feel for them, and hopefully they get a feel for you. I’ve talked to a lot of people, and this is a very tight-knit organization led by Doc and KG, and the key is to fall in line and follow those leaders. Then you work hard every day.”
9:38am: The Celtics have officially signed Sean Williams and waived Jermaine O'Neal, the team announced in a press release. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported yesterday that the pair of roster moves was expected.
Williams, 25, spent most of the season with the Mavericks before he was waived to clear a roster spot for Kelenna Azubuike. The Mavs shuttled Williams back and forth between their NBA squad and their D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. While the big man appeared in just eight games for Dallas, he played 27 games for the Legends, averaging 15.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game. Because he was waived prior to the March buyout deadline, Williams will be eligible for the postseason and will provide frontcourt depth for the Celtics.
O'Neal underwent surgery on his left wrist in March, sidelining him for the season. Since he was in the last year of his contract, there was no reason for the Celtics to keep him on the roster. He'll become a free agent and figures to sign with a new team this summer.