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Eastern Notes: Knicks, Hamilton, Allen, Celtics

March 19th, 2013 at 2:22pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks announced a pair of injuries today, as Kurt Thomas will miss approximately two to four weeks with a stress fracture in his right foot, while Tyson Chandler will be sidelined for a week with a small bulging disc (all Twitter links). As Howard Beck of the New York Times notes (via Twitter), with so many players injured, particularly in the frontcourt, it may be time for the Knicks to reconsider their decision not to waive Rasheed Wallace to open a roster spot for a replacement. While we wait to see if the club makes a roster move, let's check out a few more items from around the Eastern Conference:

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Bulls Chose Luxury Tax Over Trading First-Rounder

February 25th, 2013 at 2:30pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bulls were one of just seven NBA teams that had never paid the luxury tax entering this season, but after standing pat at the deadline, Chicago is poised to be a taxpayer for the first time. According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, however, the Bulls could have "easily" traded Richard Hamilton and moved under the tax threshold, but were unwilling to include a first-round pick along with Hamilton.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported on deadline day that the Bulls were reluctant to pair Hamilton with a draft pick in trade talks, though at the time it wasn't clear what sort of pick would be necessary to dump Hamilton's $5MM salary. As I noted in my post on Wojnarowski's report, when the Grizzlies got under the tax by sending Marreese Speights and Wayne Ellington to Cleveland, the cost was a future first-round selection whose protection will likely make it a lottery pick.

The Bulls have enough assets that they could have afforded to part with one had they been serious about getting out of the tax — in addition to all of their own picks, the team also holds a future Bobcats first-rounder and the rights to Nikola Mirotic. Although Derrick Rose's brother Reggie may not have been impressed with Chicago's inactivity at the deadline, the team's decision not to give up an asset in a purely financially-motivated deal seems to represent a step in the right direction.

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Odds & Ends: Bulls, Warriors, Kings, Gordon

February 21st, 2013 at 10:55am CST by Luke Adams

Just to make sure they don't slip through the cracks, here are a few odds and ends from overnight and this morning, as the trade deadline creeps closer….

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Bulls Reluctant To Pair Hamilton With Draft Pick

February 21st, 2013 at 9:58am CST by Luke Adams

Although reports have suggested the Bulls are "pushing hard" to unload Richard Hamilton, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports (via Twitter) that the Bulls aren't inclined to pair Hamilton with a draft pick to sweeten the deal.

The Bulls don't have a whole lot of leverage in Hamilton talks, since rival teams recognize Chicago is trying to move below the tax threshold. As such, I don't see how they'll be able to move the veteran shooting guard without including some sort of sweetener. When the Grizzlies dealt Marreese Speights and Wayne Ellington to the Cavs to get below the tax line, it cost Memphis a first-round pick that could end up being a lottery selection.

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Morning Rumors: Hickson, Pacers, Heat, Bulls

February 21st, 2013 at 9:14am CST by Luke Adams

With the deadline less than five hours away and trade rumors picking up steam, here are a few miscellaneous rumblings from around the league:

  • The Trail Blazers' chances of landing a first-round pick in exchange for J.J. Hickson don't look good at the moment, a source tells Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
  • In an effort to move below the tax threshold, the Warriors are still attempting to move bench players, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter).
  • Within the same tweet, Wojnarowski says the Pacers are shopping D.J. Augustin and his expiring contract.
  • Wojnarowski's rumor-heavy tweet also includes word that the Heat are offering Dexter Pittman in deals.
  • The Bulls are "pushing hard" to unload Richard Hamilton, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
  • The Thunder have been seeking a first-rounder for Eric Maynor, but haven't found any takers yet, says Sam Amick of USA Today (via Twitter).
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Berger On Bledsoe, Celtics, Bulls, Warriors, Maynor

February 19th, 2013 at 9:37am CST by Luke Adams

In his latest piece for CBSSports.com, Ken Berger echoes a rumor we've heard recently, writing that concerns about increasing luxury-tax penalties may make teams reluctant to deal this week. While there may be something to that idea, I'd be surprised if we don't end up seeing a handful of trades consummated by Thursday afternoon at 2:00pm CST. And Berger also shares the latest on a few possibilities, so let's round up the highlights from his column:

  • The Clippers are willing to listen on Eric Bledsoe inquiries, but are reluctant to move him as long as there's even the slightest doubt that Chris Paul will re-sign this summer.
  • Talks between the Clippers and Celtics involving Kevin Garnett are dormant for now. Rival execs believe that Danny Ainge recognizes that if he trades Garnett, he'll probably have to trade Paul Pierce as well, and vice versa. If the C's don't blow things up, moving Jason Terry to get under the luxury tax will also be a consideration.
  • Other teams who could attempt to get under the luxury tax: The Bulls, by moving Richard Hamilton, and the Warriors, who could try to deal a couple of minimum-salary players like Jeremy Tyler, Kent Bazemore, or Charles Jenkins.
  • Bergers suggests that Eric Maynor, who we heard is being shopped by the Thunder, could be a fit for the Jazz, but Utah is "consumed with the dilemma" of whether to trade Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap. I'm sure if Oklahoma City approached the Jazz with an offer, they'd listen, but it doesn't sound like a priority for Utah at the moment.
  • The Timberwolves are aggressively shopping draft picks in an attempt to acquire wing help. We heard a similar report from Adrian Wojnarowski last night.
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Eastern Notes: Bulls, Magic, Bobcats, Garnett

February 14th, 2013 at 10:27pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times relayed some gems out of Bulls camp tonight, reporting that Chicago is still taking and making phone calls as the trade deadline approaches. He cites a source within the organization that says talks between the Bulls and Raptors involving Carlos Boozer are "off the table," and that there hasn't been a high demand for Richard Hamilton. As for Derrick Rose's status, the reality that he might not return this season hasn't put any additional pressure on Chicago to find more help or try to lessen the payroll. Here's more of what we've heard tonight out of the Eastern Conference:

  • Several Magic veterans weighed in on the possibility of being traded before next Thursday's deadline including J.J. Redick, who is in the final year of his deal and has drawn significant interest from other teams. Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel says that although the front office has told their players that they aren't being shopped, they still acknowledge that they are responsible for listening to offers and taking into account what could make them better in the long term. 
  • Amidst reports of tension boiling over between Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap and embattled guard Ben Gordon on Monday, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer notes that it wasn't the first time that the 29-year-old guard appeared frustrated this season and that Gordon and Dunlap have already met twice before to discuss his role. 
  • Celtics forward Kevin Garnett explained his comments that this Sunday would be his last All-Star game, as some had seen it as possible hint that he would retire after this year: "Let's just put it like this: I'm more than grateful for going. I'm not going to act like I've got more All-Star games in me. So I'm just going to actually enjoy this one with friends and family. That's what I meant" (NBA.com).
  • Rich Levine of CSNNE.com said that nothing definitive can be concluded by Garnett's comments, and that only time will tell if he is actually contemplating retirement soon. 
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Eastern Rumors: Knicks, Hamilton, Nets, Oden

January 11th, 2013 at 9:04am CST by Luke Adams

The Eastern Conference's top two teams fell last night, as the Heat lost a nailbiter in Portland and the Carmelo Anthony-less Knicks dropped a low-scoring affair in Indiana. Thursday's results further compress the playoff picture in the East, where the top eight teams, from the No. 1 Heat to the No. 8 Celtics, are all separated by just 5.5 games. Here are a few Friday updates related to four of those eight Eastern contenders:

  • Asked about the Knicks' reported interest in Kenyon Martin, coach Mike Woodson told reporters, including Al Iannazzone of Newsday, "that's news to me." If Marcus Camby is forced to miss time after aggravating a foot injury Thursday night, then the Knicks could look to sign someone, says Iannazzone.
  • Richard Hamilton, who turns 35 next month, tells K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune that he doesn't expect to play past age 38. Hamilton's contract for next year is mostly non-guaranteed, and he would turn 38 during the 2015/16 season, so he'd likely have to sign at least a couple more deals to play that long.
  • Nets management has been impressed with the job done so far by coach P.J. Carlesimo, who will "almost certainly" hold the job until the end of the season, a source tells Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.
  • Greg Oden's agent, Mike Conley Sr., tells Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida that he's 100% certain his client will be playing in the NBA next season. Conley didn't talk extensively about teams that could be in play, but hinted that the Heat aren't necessarily the frontrunners, and said the Trail Blazers definitely aren't an option. I'm not sure the Heat were widely viewed as the favorites — Miami was just the only specific suitor named in Brian Windhorst's report yesterday.
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Odds & Ends: Gay, Knicks, Bulls, Sullinger

January 10th, 2013 at 10:51pm CST by Sean Highkin

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

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Bulls Aren’t Looking To Deal Hamilton

January 8th, 2013 at 10:46pm CST by Ryan Raroque

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago-Sun Times, Richard Hamilton is considered to be an important part of the Bulls' plans and won't initiate including him in trade talks. The former UConn product can credit his relationship with coach Tom Thibodeau's firm belief that the 6'7 veteran shooting guard will provide the requisite leadership needed during the second half of the season and in the playoffs.

Aside from a foot injury that has sidelined him for 12 of the team's 32 games played so far, the 34-year-old has put up 12.4 PPG while shooting 39.1% from three-point range and 89.4% from the line, both significant increases from his first season with the Bulls in 2011-12. Cowley adds that the team has played very well as of late, going 5-1 over the last six games since Hamilton's return to the lineup. 

GM Gar Forman put the kibosh on the idea that Chicago had been looking to shed Hamilton's $5MM contract in order to avoid going over the league's hard cap, even suggesting that the team could look to add another player for cheap if needed. 

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