Newly-appointed Hawks GM Danny Ferry will have to put together a team for next season without much financial flexibility. Atlanta doesn't want to venture into luxury tax territory, but that won't deter Ferry from making upgrades to the roster via trade, writes Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Timberwolves reportedly made attempts to acquire Pau Gasol earlier in the 2011/12 season, and it appears the team's pursuit of the Lakers big man will continue into the offseason. Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press reports (link via Yahoo! Sports) that when the T-Wolves offered Derrick Williams to Charlotte for the No. 2 pick, it would have been part of a bigger move to land Gasol. While that deal didn't happen, Minnesota is expected to keep trying to acquire the Spaniard this summer, says Krawczynski.
With the Lakers holding only the 60th pick in the draft, much of the talk surrounding the team has had to do with Pau Gasol. Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio hears much more from L.A. and shares it along with a number of tidbits from around the Association. A source tells Amico the Lakers will look to dump salary this offseason and sign Spencer Hawes, Nick Young, Kirk Hinrich and Kris Humphries. The Lakers may also look into trading for Jordan Crawford if the Wizards draft Bradley Beal tonight. Here's more from Amico:
3:32pm: Chad Ford of ESPN.com hears from a league source that the Rockets are no longer pursuing Gasol, while Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio hears that it's still "very possible" Houston goes after Pau (Sulia link). Ken Berger of CBSSports.com also hears from a source that the Rockets have "cooled significantly" on Gasol. I'm guessing the 31-year-old is, at best, a Plan B or C for the Rockets at this point.
2:54pm: Bresnahan adds in another tweet that the Lakers also have interest in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who could be the target if the team moves Gasol in a deal for a top-five pick.
2:27pm: The Hawks have been pursuing Gasol, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). There's still nothing imminent, but Bresnahan says Josh Smith would be heading to the Lakers in any deal involving the two teams.
We're tracking most of today's draft rumors right here, but the latest column from Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio has a few too many tidbits and rumors to condense it to a single bullet point. Amico's piece has draft-related updates on the Lakers, Hawks, Wizards, and more, so let's round up all the pertinent info below….
Luol Deng's decision to play in this summer's Olympics rather than immediately undergoing wrist surgery has created some tension between the player and his NBA team, and Deng said this weekend that he wouldn't be shocked if the Bulls traded him. Both Alex Kennedy and Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld looked at the possibility of a deal, with Kennedy noting that the Bulls would "love to add a young star" in the draft lottery. Kyler adds that Deng's trade value takes a bit of a hit since he's expected to miss the start of the season, but says the Raptors and Warriors have shown "more than a passing interest."
Here are a few more Monday morning notes from the pair of HoopsWorld scribes on potential trades that could be consummated this week:
It was SI.com's Sam Amick, not Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, that first reported yesterday that the Cavaliers and Bobcats could explore a trade involving the second and fourth picks in the draft. But the FOX scribe confirmed Amick's rumor last night, tweeting that the Cavs are trying to pry away the No. 2 pick from the Bobcats. He added (Twitter link) that it appears Cleveland is targeting Bradley Beal, which makes sense. Although I think the Cavs would do well to land Beal, Harrison Barnes, or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, if the team truly covets Beal, trading up may be necessary — I don't think the Florida product gets past the Wizards at No. 3.
Here are a few more notes from Amico, via Twitter:
We're tracking the majority of today's draft updates in a single post right here, but Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld tweeted out a number of draft-related rumors this afternoon that are worthy of their own post. Here's the latest from Kyler on Jared Sullinger, Dion Waiters, Damian Lillard, and more, along with one non-draft item….
Since the Lakers were bounced in the second round of the playoffs by the Thunder, chatter in Los Angeles has centered around speculation that a shake-up is coming, perhaps involving a Pau Gasol trade. However, speaking to T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times, Lakers vice president of player personnel Jim Buss said the odds are "very good" that Gasol, Kobe Bryant, and Andrew Bynum will all be wearing Lakers uniforms in the fall.
Jeremy Lin will have the opportunity to appeal his arbitration case to a three-person board if he loses, writes Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News. The same is true for the NBA if it doesn't win against Lin, Steve Novak, J.J. Hickson and Chauncey Billups as the players fight to retain their Bird Rights after being waived at various points just prior to and during the 2011/2012 season. Let's catch up on the latest rumors and headlines as reported by Lawrence in his latest offering…