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The NBA’s Next Dwight Howard

August 14th, 2012 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

Dwight Howard is still nearly over 10 months from free agency, but it appears the "Dwightmare" is over, with D12 having been traded to a team likely to sign him long-term. However, as we saw with players such as Howard, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and others, superstars approaching unrestricted free agency have a tendency to create some drama.

Howard wasn't the first star to be the subject of months of speculation and rumors, and he won't be the last. So with his saga over, at least for now, it's no surprise that a handful of NBA scribes have started trying to determine which player will be next to hold his team hostage. Here are a few of their ideas:

  • Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld identifies Paul, Josh Smith, and Andrew Bynum as three players facing unrestricted free agency in 2013 that could be subject of months of "will he stay or go?" speculation. However, Kyler says Paul is likely to re-up with the Clippers next summer and that Bynum is "thrilled" with his new situation in Philadelphia. Smith would also prefer to stay put, according to Kyler, but it's not out of the question that he's traded later this season.
  • Tom Ziller of SBNation also names Paul and Bynum, filling out his list of possibilities with Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge. Acknowledging that Love and Aldridge are still a ways off from free agency, Ziller says he thinks there's a decent chance Aldridge could want out of Portland if the team doesn't make major strides in the next couple years.
  • Chris Bernucca of Sheridan Hoops looks at a number of candidates to be the next Dwight, noting that it won't be long before the speculation about the summer of 2014 begins — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all have the chance to opt out at that point.
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Odds & Ends: Williams, Cavs, Terry, Blazers

August 13th, 2012 at 12:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The 2016 Summer Olympics may be four full years away, but with London's games behind us, it's not too early to start looking ahead to Rio de Janeiro. NBA players are expected to maintain Olympic eligibility at least through 2016, so Tom Zeller of SBNation.com provides an early preview of what Team USA's roster might look like in Brazil. Zeller predicts we could see five new faces on 2016's squad, including plenty of players who missed the London games due to injuries: Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kyrie Irving.

Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:

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Bucks Sign Joel Przybilla To One-Year Deal

August 9th, 2012 at 12:40pm CST by Luke Adams

AUGUST 9TH, 12:40pm: The Bucks have officially signed Przybilla, the team announced today (Twitter link).

AUGUST 6TH, 10:15pm: The contract is a one-year, $1.35 million deal, tweets CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes. 

9:03pm: Joel Przybilla has reached a verbal agreement to sign with the Bucks, tweets JournalTimes.com's Gery Woelfel. 

AUGUST 3RD, 6:14pm: Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com says the Mavericks, with 15 players already on the roster, seem like "a distant third" behind the Bucks and Trail Blazers in the competition for Przybilla. He adds that the Mavs have expressed interest in Przybilla ever since the free agent period began July 1st, and that the team was among those interested in signing him at midseason in 2011/12.

1:32pm: Unrestricted free agent Joel Przybilla is expected to make a decision at some point this afternoon or evening on where he'll play in 2012/13, a source tells SI.com's Sam Amick. As Amick notes, Przybilla's options appear to be the Trail Blazers, Mavericks, and the Bucks — we heard earlier today that Milwaukee was considered the frontrunner.

While all three clubs have some form of mid-level or room exception available, I would imagine Przybilla won't land more than a minimum-salary contract. When he eventually signed for the 2011/12 season, the 32-year-old earned a prorated portion of the veteran's minimum from the Blazers. In 27 contests for Portland, the big man played 16.6 minutes per game, averaging 2.0 points and 5.1 rebounds.

If Przybilla signs with the Bucks, he and Samuel Dalembert will be the only true centers on the roster. However, the team has a few other guys that could play in the middle, including Ekpe Udoh and Drew Gooden.

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Blazers Notes: Stotts, Canales, Olshey

August 8th, 2012 at 9:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the Trail Blazers held a press conference to introduce newly-minted head coach Terry Stotts to the public.  The latest out of Portland..

  • Stotts hasn't made a decision on if Kaleb Canales will be the lead assistant on his staff and a decision will be made once the entire staff is complete, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.
  • However, Canales always figured to be a part of the staff as Stotts told him prior to getting the job that he would love to have him on board, tweets Mike Tokito of The Oregonian.
  • General Manager Neil Olshey said that hiring Canales as assistant was "absolutely not a prerequisite to [Stotts] being hired," according to Tokito (via Twitter).
  • Stotts hasn't set a deadline for assembling his staff but contact with assistant coaching candidates has already begun, Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge tweets.
  • Stotts says he's waiting to get permission from some teams to speak with certain candidates, tweets Haynes.
  • The new head coach says that his primary focus will be on developing the team's young players, according to the Associated Press.  At the presser, Olshey said he spoke with every GM and head coach that Stotts has worked for, and also talked to players including Dirk Nowitzki.
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Blazers Hire Terry Stotts As Head Coach

August 7th, 2012 at 8:07pm CST by Ryan Raroque

8:07pm: Neil Olshey announced that Kaleb Canales will remain on the team as an assistant coach, according to a tweet by Quick.  

6:01pm: Jason Quick of The Oregonian tweets that the Trail Blazers have hired Terry Stotts as their new head coach. Stotts had been an assistant on the Mavericks' coaching staff since 2008 after holding head coaching positions with the Bucks from 2005 to 2007 and the Hawks from 2002 to 2004. His best season to date occurred during 2005-06, when he led Milwaukee to 40 wins and the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Overall,  Stott's record as a head coach stands at 115 wins and 168 losses. 

Ben Golliver of BlazersEdge.com relayed an official statement released by GM Neil Olshey (Sulia link): 

“Terry is one of the elite offensive minds in the NBA, has extensive experience with multiple organizations and was instrumental in the Dallas Mavericks winning the 2011 NBA Championship…He understands the vision for the future of the franchise, appreciates the process involved and will create an environment on the court that will produce championship habits."

Golliver also noted a statement from Stotts (Sulia link): 

"I’m very pleased to be a part of a great franchise in a beautiful city with such a proud history. I look forward to working hard with Neil and our players toward the ultimate goal of bringing another championship to Portland.”

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com reports that Kaleb Canales, the other finalist for the Portland's coaching search, will be retained by the franchise in some capacity (Twitter link). Canales had served as the team's interim head coach last season and was reportedly well-liked by members of the organization. 

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Odds & Ends: Lakers, Nets, Meeks, Blazers

August 7th, 2012 at 4:51pm CST by Zachary Links

After previously looking at the biggest winners and losers of the NBA offseason, SI.com's Zach Lowe ran down the most intriguing teams of the summer.  Among them are the Nets, who have unquestionably upgraded their roster in the short-term, but may have hampered themselves in the long run.  The Nets now have roughly $65MM committed annually to four players across the next four years and may not be able to build on their roster if they can't swing a deal for Dwight Howard in January.  Here's more from around the Association..

  • A source told HoopsHype (via Twitter) that the Lakers are working out Rashad McCants and 2009 second-round pick Patrick Beverley today.  Beverley, 24, was named MVP of the Eurocup last season.
  • Jodie Meeks' agent, David Bauman, says that his client won't sign for a minimum contract, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times.  Bauman added that there are four or five teams looking at Meeks, including the Lakers.
  • Even though the Blazers have ushered in a rebuilding period, guard Nolan Smith isn't sold on the perception that Portland will be lottery-bound for the second-straight year, writes Lang Greene of HoopsWorld.  Smith also supported Kaleb Canales returning as head coach but expects him to stay on with the organization in an important capacity regardless.
  • Ben Golliver of CBSSports.com likes the Jazz's hire of Dennis Lindsey as their next General Manager and tip his cap to the organization for conducting a swift and productive search for Kevin O'Connor's replacement.
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Northwest Rumors: Miles, Lillard, Canales, Stotts

August 3rd, 2012 at 10:05pm CST by Chuck Myron

A pair of decisions involving the Trail Blazers are looming tonight. Owner Paul Allen has completed final interviews with coaching candidates Kaleb Canales and Terry Stotts, and the team is expected to make its choice shortly. Free agent center Joel Przybilla is reportedly making his pick between the Blazers, Bucks and Mavericks tonight, though if his drawn-out midseason decision on where to sign is any indication, it could be a few more days. Here's what we're hearing from Portland and other Northwest Division cities in the meantime:

  • With C.J. Miles on his way to the Cavs, Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune looks back at the seven years Miles spent with the Jazz after the team drafted him out of high school in 2005.
  • Smith also catches up with Damian Lillard, the sixth overall pick this June by the Blazers. Lillard dishes about his success in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he was co-MVP, and his recent conversations with LaMarcus Aldridge, in which both players have set making the playoffs as the goal for this season.
  • Dwight Jaynes of CSNNW.com says he thinks Canales will coach the Blazers next season, and theorizes that Stotts remains in the running in part so that he'll be seen more favorably the next time an NBA head coaching job opens. Stotts is represented by Warren LeGarie, who's also the agent for Canales and GM Neil Olshey. Being perceived as a legitimate candidate for the Blazers' job will help Stotts get another head coaching job someday, Jaynes says.
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Blazers Entering Final Phase Of Coaching Search

August 3rd, 2012 at 2:50pm CST by Luke Adams

2:50pm: According to Jason Quick of the Oregonian, Allen's interviews with Stotts and Canales in London have already been completed (Twitter link).

2:29pm: The final two candidates for the Trail Blazers head coach job, Mavericks assistant Terry Stotts and Blazers interim coach Kaleb Canales, are traveling to London this weekend to meet with team owner Paul Allen, says Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. According to Haynes, the London meetings will represent the final phase of the interview process, with a decision on the new Portland coach expected shortly thereafter.

Stotts and Canales were joined by Suns assistant Elston Turner and Magic assistant Steve Clifford as finalists for the Blazers job, but Turner and Clifford were informed earlier this week that they were no longer in the running, says Haynes.

Canales' stint as Nate McMillan's replacement in 2011/12 was his first NBA head coaching gig. Stotts, meanwhile, coached the Hawks from 2002 to 2004, and the Bucks from '05 to '07.

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Odds & Ends: Brewer, Raptors, Blazers, Olympics

August 1st, 2012 at 11:08pm CST by Chuck Myron

As August begins, four deals became official today while another is on its way, as Roger Mason and the Hornets agreed to terms. There's plenty left to resolve this summer, with the Dwight Howard saga continuing to loom as the league's largest story. Two of the most significant plotlines don't involve players. The Blazers cut their list of coaching candidates in half today, while the Clippers continue to operate without a general manager. Here's what's up around the Association tonight:

  • In a two–part interview with Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com, Ronnie Brewer explains why he turned down offers with more years and more money to sign for the minimum with the Knicks. 
  • Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun doesn't expect any more offseason movement for the Raptors (Sulia link).
  • Jason Quick of The Oregonian notes that Terry Stotts and Kaleb Canales, the remaining candidates to coach the Blazers, are both clients of agent Warren LeGarie, who also represents GM Neil Olshey. Quick adds that since LeGarie represents more coaches than any other agent, it could simply be a coincidence (Twitter links). 
  • Jonathan Tjarks of RealGM.com says it would be shortsighted for the NBA to push for an age limit in the Olympics, arguing the exposure players get on a worldwide stage at the Olympics helps promote the NBA product internationally. 
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Latest On Trail Blazers’ Coaching Search

August 1st, 2012 at 7:29pm CST by Luke Adams

AUGUST 1, 7:29pm: The field of finalists has been trimmed to two, with Steve Clifford and Elston Turner out of the running, Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports. That leaves Terry Stotts and Kaleb Canales as the two remaining candidates.

JULY 26, 12:25pm: The second round of interviews will include owner Paul Allen and will begin on Tuesday, according to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Haynes also hasn't heard anything about a fifth candidate being in the mix.

JULY 25, 5:34pm: There could be a fifth "mystery" candidate involved, according to Jason Quick of The Oregonian. While his identity is unknown, the fifth candidate is not represented by Warren LeGarie, the agent for GM Neil Olshey, or Steve Kauffman, another prominent agent in coaching circles. If the Blazers go with the fifth candidate, it would be late in the process, Quick hears, so it appears he's regarded as a fallback option (All Twitter links).

3:14pm: The final four candidates for the Blazers' opening are Terry Stotts, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, and Kaleb Canales, reports Jason Quick of the Oregonian (via Twitter). The team will conduct a second round of interviews next week with the remaining contenders, according to Quick (Twitter link).

3:11pm: Bulls assistant Adrian Griffin is also out of the running for the Portland job, having been informed by the team that he's no longer being considered, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.

3:07pm: After an offseason in which he interviewed for a number of head coach positions, Brian Shaw will be returning to Indiana as an assistant. According to Jason Quick of the Oregonian (via Twitter), Shaw and Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey spoke today and decided that the Portland coaching job wasn't a fit for the Pacers assistant, who also interviewed with the Magic and Bobcats.

Agent Jerome Stanley tells Quick that Shaw called Pacers coach Frank Vogel today to tell him he was eager to return and help Indiana pursue a title (Twitter link).

As for the Blazers, even with Shaw out of the running, there are still plenty of candidates for the club's head coach position. Quick confirms that the team has interviewed at least the following candidates so far: Warriors assistant Michael Malone, Mavericks assistant Terry Stotts; Grizzlies assistant David Joerger; former Magic assistant Steve Clifford, Suns assistant Elston Turner, Hawks assistant Lester Conner; Heat assistant David Fizdale, Bulls assistant Adrian Griffin, and former Knicks and Suns assistant Phil Weber.

Fizdale has withdrawn from consideration, while Clifford is nearing a deal to join the Bulls as an assistant, says Quick.

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