Southwest Notes: Gasol, Nowitzki, Mills, Pelicans
Despite an injury to his left ankle at Eurobasket, Grizzlies center Marc Gasol says he is healthy and prepared to start the season, Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal writes.
“My body feels really good,” Gasol said. “It was a freak accident. A guy dived for the ball and landed on my leg. It was kind of a sprain on my left ankle but it’s fine. For 15-20 minutes, I wasn’t sure if I would continue to play but it worked out great.”
In the same story, Tillery writes that Brandan Wright is in good standing with the Grizzlies after seemingly being displeased with the team following an early playoff exit last season. The team created playing time for Wright by not re-signing veteran Zach Randolph. Now, the team enters the new season with a rejuvenated confidence from two of its key assets.
Read about more happenings around the Southwest Division:
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes 2017/18 could be Dirk Nowitzki‘s final season. However, the outspoken Cuban also feels Nowitzki may want to surpass Kobe Bryant‘s record of 20 straight seasons with one franchise, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon (Twitter link). The coming season will be Nowitzki’s 20th in Dallas.
- Pau Gasol has shed 10 pounds since last season ended and the 37-year-old is looking forward to helping the Spurs this season, Tom Orsborn of San Antonio Express-News writes. As Gasol explains, his free agency didn’t involve “a whole lot of flirting with other teams,” since potential suitors knew he wanted to return to San Antonio.
- The Spurs re-signed Patty Mills quickly after the conclusion of last season. Mills believes the swift move was an indicator of his importance to the team, Melissa Rohlin of San Antonio Express-News writes.
- The Pelicans have DeMarcus Cousins, a slew of veterans, and a young stalwart in Anthony Davis entering the new season. Larry Holder of NOLA.com writes that the team understands it is either now or never if the team wants to win since Cousins and the veterans may be gone next year.
- Former North Carolina coach Mark Gottfried will be a scout for the Mavericks this season, per ESPN’s Jeff Goodman (Twitter link).
Mavericks Notes: Powell, Curry, Noel, Cuban
The Mavericks’ decision to sign Dwight Powell to a four-year, $37MM contract last summer raised eyebrows around the NBA, and while Powell had a decent season in 2016/17, he still needs to increase his production in order to make good on that deal. As Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com details, Dallas has high hopes for Powell this season, with the team hoping to see him take on a bigger role and improve his outside shooting.
“Expanding my range and continuing to develop all facets of the game offensively and defensively is a long process, and I’m just going to keep working at it,” Powell said. “Obviously, I had higher expectations for myself. I wanted to help this team more, and I wanted to win more. … Whatever it takes to help this team win and to put myself in a situation to be successful and help our team be successful, I’m willing to do whatever role [Rick Carlisle] wants me to do.”
Here’s more out of Dallas:
- Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News identifies Powell and Seth Curry as a pair of Mavs who could surprise fans in 2017/18. It will be a big year for Curry, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2018.
- After a disappointing free agency outcome for Nerlens Noel, the relationship between the big man and the Mavs may be a little strained, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be salvaged, Sefko writes for The Dallas Morning News.
- Speaking to Dalton Trigg of Mavs Moneyball, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggests new Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta got a bargain at $2.2 billion, and reiterates that he has no plans to sell his own team for any amount of money, even if he runs for office in 2020. “I wouldn’t sell it. I would let Donnie [Nelson] run it,” Cuban said.
- The Basketball Insiders staff is bearish on the Mavericks’ chances to make noise in the Western Conference in 2017/18. Of the five Basketball Insiders writers to weigh in, all five expect Dallas to finish dead last in the Southwest division.
Mark Cuban Talks Nerlens Noel, Restricted Free Agency
After the Mavericks acquired Nerlens Noel at last season’s trade deadline, many assumed the team would follow up the transaction by locking up the center to a long-term deal. Noel ended up signing his qualifying offer, which will allow him to hit the market again next summer, but this time, as an unrestricted free agent. Owner Mark Cuban said he was satisfied with the result, though he would have rather inked the Kentucky product to a longer deal, as he tells Tim Cowlishaw on his local radio program (h/t Dallas Morning News).
“We made what we thought was a significant offer,” Cuban said. “Nerlens decided to bet on himself and now we’re in a position where if everybody comes out ahead this coming season, he’ll get paid, we’ll be happy and we’ll go on with life. He’s not going to be the first player to bet on himself and he won’t be the last.”
Cuban believes this year’s crop of restricted free agents were unfortunate because many teams over-spent last offseason. The salary cap was expected to go significantly this offseason, though that didn’t happen and many players saw less than desirable offers because teams didn’t plan for that scenario. Cuban added that Noel understands the market and despite being unable to land a massive deal, the big man has remained positive.
“I’ve talked to him since and he’s like, ‘I’m ready to do this. Let’s go out and have a great year.’ He’s just got that positive attitude and that’s been great. Look, the whole time–I’ve got to give Nerlens props–while all of this was going on, he was very positive. It was like look, ‘Our agents are our agents and they’re doing their thing but I’m excited.’ So I give him a ton of credit,” Cuban said.
Southwest Notes: Nowitzki, Olajuwon, Spurs
The give-and-take relationship that Dirk Nowitzki and Mavs owner Mark Cuban have has never been on clearer display than when the 39-year-old took a $20MM pay cut between this year and last, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes.
“Mark and I obviously have a close, close relationship,” Nowitzki said. Last year, he really, really took care of me as we all know […] and it was my time to show again that I love being [with the Mavs]. I gave him a little bit of a deal, maybe.”
The big man is optimistic about the Mavs’ young core built around Harrison Barnes, Dennis Smith Jr. and, hopefully, Nerlens Noel, suggesting that he’s hopeful to leave the franchise in as good a position as possible when he retires after this season or next.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- The Spurs have named Blake Ahearn the new head coach of their G League affiliate, the team announced in a press release on its website. Ahearn, who played briefly in the NBA, will be at the helm of the Austin Spurs in 2017/18.
- Count Hakeem Olajuwon among those interested in buying a portion of the Rockets. The franchise Hall of Famer has been approached by several groups that want him involved in a potential purchase, Mark Woods reports for ESPN.
- The Mavs have a young core in place that they’re happy with and aren’t afraid to let it develop organically. “I think that young core is what we want to continue to build on, grow with and hopefully surprise a lot of people,” owner Mark Cuban told Earl Sneed of Dallas’ official website. “I think Dennis [Smith Jr.] is going to be able to come in, play and hopefully have an impact his first year, and we don’t want to take anything away from that.“
And-Ones: Conference Disparity, Summer League
For nearly two decades the Western Conference has been regarded as superior to the Eastern Conference and that hasn’t changed this offseason with players like Paul George and Jimmy Butler migrating to the left side of the map.
At what point, however, should the league take action to at least restore a semblance of fairness, if not balance? An excerpt from the latest Zach Lowe feature on ESPN details a few ideas that teams have had over the course of the last few seasons to address the issue.
Suns owner Robert Sarver has suggested that the league seed playoff teams 1-16, rather than 1-8 in each conference. Mavs owner Mark Cuban even went so far as to pitch a temporary realignment plan.
While no changes appear imminent, the concerns don’t seem to be going away. A concern of Cuban’s centers around the fact that the teams in the Western Conference already occupy smaller markets and can’t afford to field anything less than competitive rosters if they want to succeed as a business.
Some Eastern Conference teams in big markets, like Brooklyn, New York and Philadelphia, on the other hand, can get away with years of sub-optimal performance knowing that the end goal, a rebuild, will be ultimately worth it.
There’s more from the NBA world:
- The revitilization of a beloved Lakers–Celtics rivalry has propelled summer league basketball to new heights. Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN writes that Saturday’s session of the Las Vegas Summer League was sold out by noon on Friday. This marks the first time in 14 years that an entire day session of summer league basketball has sold out of tickets in advance.
- Former Spurs guard Nicolas Laprovittola has left his EuroLeague team to sign with Zenit St. Petersburg, international basketball reporter David Pick tweets.
- As the NBA offseason progresses, a succession of relevant contract deadlines will soon pass, dates that represent full or partial guarantees for players. By remaining with the Heat through today, for example, Wayne Ellington‘s 2017/18 contract will become officially guaranteed. To track all of these big days, follow along with our NBA Salary Guarantee Dates tracker.
Mavericks Notes: Noel, Dirk, Draft
The Mavericks are eager to re-sign Nerlens Noel and owner Mark Cuban sounded optimistic about the team’s chances of doing so in a recent radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan’s Ben & Skin show (h/t The Dallas Morning News).
“I’m not allowed to talk about [negotiations] but all I can tell you is he’s one of a bunch of guys who came in, they all got together and said ‘Let’s go down to the practice facility and start working out together,'” Cuban said. “So they’re down there now and so that’s exciting to see, and he’s part of that group.”
Noel is a restricted free agent, meaning the team can match any offer sheet he receives. Here’s more on the Mavs:
- Cuban added that Dirk Nowitzki is becoming more involved with the Mavericks‘ scouting department, as The Dallas Morning News relays. “To his credit, there are some Europeans we’re talking to about him now, talking to him and getting feedback from [his coach] Holger [Geschwindner] who’s maybe seen them,” Cuban said. “And having him talk to coaches, he’s a little bit more involved early in the process rather than just walking into the war room and giving feedback then.”
- The Mavericks will take the best player available at No. 9, Cuban said during that same radio appearance. “We’ll probably air on the side of long term. We’re not drafting for need so we’ll probably take the best possible player,” the team’s owner added.
Mark Cuban Admits Mavs Tanked At End Of Season
Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday morning (video link), Mavericks owner Mark Cuban admitted that after his team was eliminated from the playoffs this season, the franchise “did everything possible to lose games” and improve its draft position. As Cuban explained, once they get on the floor, all players will try to win, but management can put a team in a position to lose by giving extended minutes to young, inexperienced players.
The Mavs’ approach to regular season games down the stretch was hardly a secret, and Dallas wasn’t the only team to go in that direction. The Suns, for instance, shut down players like Eric Bledsoe well in advance of the end of the regular season in an effort to improve their lottery standing. Still, teams rarely acknowledge that strategy publicly, making Cuban’s admission somewhat surprising.
Cuban’s comments also come just a few months after he stated that his club had no interest in tanking. About a month into the season, with the Mavs off to a league-worst 3-13 start, Cuban insisted that the team believed in always competing, adding that he didn’t want his players to develop any bad habits.
“There are so many teams that became four years away from four years away because guys just learned how to lose,” Cuban said in November. “They stopped caring about any individual game and just got used to it, and you don’t want guys developing those bad habits. We have so many young guys on this team, we want the games to mean something. Not to be, ‘OK, who are we going to pull in the fourth quarter so we can lose this game?’ That’s not how teams develop good habits.”
It will be interesting to see whether Cuban, who has faced many fines over the years for his criticism of NBA referees, will face any penalties from commissioner Adam Silver for his acknowledgement of the Mavs’ end-of-season tanking.
The Mavs ultimately landed the No. 9 spot in this year’s draft, with Tuesday’s lottery results not affecting their draft position.
Mavs Notes: Curry, Noel, Hammons, Harris, Cuban
On the heels of a 33-49 season, the Mavericks will focus on improving their roster via free agency and the draft. Eddie Sefko of Dallas Morning News suggested two veteran FAs to provide an immediate boost: Serge Ibaka and J.J. Redick. Sefko explains that Ibaka is a “big-time rebounder” who is still relatively young, while Redick would help shore up the team’s mediocre shooting.
Sefko cautions against hoping for a point guard improvement through the draft. Unless the Mavs “get lucky” and secure one of the top two picks, they’re unlikely to obtain a top-shelf guard. In the event Dallas winds up with the 8, 9, or 10 pick, Sefko cites Jonathan Isaac, Miles Bridges, and Lauri Markkanen as potential fits.
More from Dallas…
- Seth Curry, who missed the season’s final seven games due to a left shoulder injury, hopes to avoid undergoing surgery over the offseason. “It’s still a possibility, but I don’t think it’s necessary at this point,” Curry told Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
- Former Purdue Boilermaker A.J. Hammons got his feet wet in the NBA this past season, scoring 43 points with 36 rebounds over 22 games. While Hammons’ contract is guaranteed over the next two seasons, Eddie Sefko of Dallas Morning News is skeptical of his role on the team in 2017/18. “I like the big guy, but I haven’t seen a passion for wanting to improve,” Sefko writes. “He loves to sit out there and launch jump shots. But I think his calling in this league has to be as a strong rebounder and rim protector. My bottom line: doubtful that he is here next season.”
- While he appears set to enter the market as a restricted free agent, Nerlens Noel‘s recent remarks to Brad Townsend of Dallas Morning News imply he’d like another season in Dallas. “I love Dallas,” Noel said. “In my short time here, I’ve really enjoyed it. With the pieces that we have, and the opportunities we’ll be seeing in the near-future, I think there’s a lot to be excited for.”
- While Devin Harris isn’t a lock to start next season with Dallas, one thing is certain: the 34-year-old isn’t retiring. “Definitely not retiring,” Harris told Adam Grosbard of Dallas Morning News. The Mavs are unsure whether they will exercise Harris’ $4.4MM option for 2017/18. Harris averaged 16/7 minutes in 2016/17; the lowest total since his rookie season. “Ball’s in their court. I just let the chips fall where they may and try to make the best decision possible with the information that I have.”
- In a 109-91 loss to the Nuggets- the Mavs’ penultimate game of the season- coach Rick Carlisle gave six players 25-years-old or younger significant playing time. Mark Cuban spoke to Adam Grosbard of Dallas Morning News, explaining the strategy of giving younger players minutes down the stretch. “When we were playing for it, we obviously had some bad games but it’s obvious our young guys are getting better. And that’s all you can ask for,” Cuban said. Dirk Nowtizki seconded Cuban’s remarks, adding “It’s been fun to watch these kids.”
Southwest Notes: Romo, Cuban, Popovich, Anderson
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is taking some heat for his plan to honor Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo by letting him fill a roster spot for the team’s final home game. Brian T. Smith of The Houston Chronicle calls the proposed move a “pitiful little circus” and says NBA Commissioner Adam Silver should block it. However, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told The Dallas Morning News that he is looking forward to hosting Romo, who frequently sits behind the bench at Mavs games.
There’s more tonight from the Southwest Division:
- Cuban offered a solution to the NBA’s problem of star players being rested, relays Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Cuban, who attended the board of governors meeting this week, suggests shortening the preseason and setting up the schedule so that teams in nationally televised games have days of rest built in. “It really comes down more to a scheduling issue than anything else, and my contribution was that, when you schedule marquee games for TV, look at the schedule first and don’t put somebody who has been on a long trip, traveled a lot of miles or obviously going to be less than fresh, because when we schedule those games, it’s on us,” Cuban said. “I remember [years ago] we were on TNT on the fourth game in five nights. Who’s dumb enough to schedule that? That’s just stupid.”
- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won’t rest anyone during the team’s final two games, tweets Jabari Young of The San Antonio Express-News. Popovich made the comments after tonight’s loss to the Clippers, adding that he was upset that his team wasn’t physical enough.
- Rockets forward Ryan Anderson, who returned to the court Friday following an ankle injury, plans to use the rest of the season to get in rhythm for the playoffs, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. In his first season with Houston after signing as a free agent last summer, Anderson is averaging 13.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 69 games. “It’s real important to be playing at your highest level coming into the playoffs,” he said. “This is a year we can do something special. I want to be prepared.”
Knicks Notes: Porzingis, Hornacek, Jackson, Holiday
Kristaps Porzingis plans on working out with Dirk Nowitzki over the offseason, Marc Berman of the Post reports. While Mark Cuban initially wasn’t thrilled with the idea, the Mavs owner came to his senses, saying “It was all in fun. It’s up to Dirk.’’
Porzingis, meanwhile, intends to take advantage of an opportunity to learn from an all-time great.
“I’m sure it will help me out and improve my game, hopefully, unless Mark Cuban says no,’’ Porzingis said. “Dirk is a guy who can really help my game. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to work with him, a few days to get on the court with him and pick his brain.”
More from The Mecca…
- In an interview with Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders, Justin Holiday reiterated his desire to play alongside his brother (and fellow free agent-to-be) Jrue Holiday. “That’s something we’ve talked about, and I’m sure we’ll talk about it more when the season is over.”
- According to a report from Frank Isola of the Daily News, Phil Jackson may consider firing Jeff Hornacek after the season. Isola takes Jackson to task for being indifferent to the team’s dour mood, as well as being overly fixated on running the triangle offense. “Maybe Jackson’s plan is to be more hands-on knowing that Hornacek will not stand in his way. Under this arrangement Phil’s coaching the team without being on the bench. And it would be a recipe for an even bigger disaster,” Isola writes.
- The Knicks must focus on Porzingis’ development amid their chaotic season, Steve Popper of The Record writes. “I think this year is a really good experience for me,” Porzingis said. “It’s a tough year. It’s a tough everything. There’s a quote like, a smooth sea never, you know what I mean about the sea? Google it. Basically if the sea is smooth you’re never going to become a great sailor. That’s how I always take it – as a challenge.”