Western Notes: Terry, Virginia, Pavlovic, Suns
Although Jason Kidd and the Mavericks didn't seem to part ways on the best of terms this summer, Mavs owner Mark Cuban had kinder words for Jason Terry, who also left Dallas over the offseason. Cuban said Monday that the club looked at the possibility of a multiyear deal for Terry, but "couldn't make the numbers work," according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
"I would have liked for him to stay," Cuban said. "But I understood what his goals were. He’s always going to be special and hopefully when his career is over he’ll come back and work with us."
As Terry and his new club, the Celtics, prepare to host Cuban's Mavs tomorrow, let's round up a few more updates out of the Western Conference:
- Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee examines the next step for the city of Virginia Beach after the state tentatively rejected a request for $150MM of funding to help build a new arena and lure the Kings to Virginia.
- Although he was something of an afterthought in the three-way trade that sent Courtney Lee to the Celtics this summer, Sasha Pavlovic has shown real value for the Trail Blazers, writes Jason Quick of the Oregonian.
- Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic looks at what's gone wrong for the Suns so far this season.
- Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld hears from Suns sources that the system changes implemented at the start of the season have created major problems for the team's roster.
Lowe On Lin, Anderson, Suns, Lee, Thompson
Most players that signed new contracts over the summer will become eligible to be traded as of this coming Saturday, so Grantland's Zach Lowe took the opportunity to take a look around the league at some potential trade candidates. Here are a few of the highlights from Lowe's piece:
- Even though the Rockets didn't expect to land Jeremy Lin this summer, and didn't expect to acquire another star ballhandler in James Harden, it's still "extremely unlikely" that they'd move Lin.
- There's no indication that the Hornets would consider dealing Ryan Anderson, who Lowe clarifies (via Twitter) becomes trade-eligible this month rather than next month, as we'd previously thought.
- Teams around the league are eyeing the Suns to see if they can extract some value there, but Phoenix almost certainly won't move Goran Dragic and can't trade amnesty pickup Luis Scola. Lowe also notes that "you can count on zero hands" the number of clubs interested in acquiring Michael Beasley.
- It's not out of the question that Courtney Lee could become a trade candidate if the Celtics are seeking a big man.
- Jason Thompson is "coveted around the league" due to his reasonable long-term salary, and is blocking Thomas Robinson in Sacramento, so the Kings could attempt to gauge his value.
- The Mavericks may be a buyer rather than a seller, but they'll be wary of adding any salary that would affect their cap flexibility next summer.
- The Sixers will be in the market for a big man once trade talks pick up.
- Rival executives are wondering if it's too early for GM Neil Olshey and the Trail Blazers to explore the trade market for LaMarcus Aldridge.
Northwest Notes: Blazers, Koufos, Nuggets
It was a fairly successful Sunday for Northwest Division teams, as the Thunder and Jazz pulled out wins against the Pacers and Lakers, respectively, while the Nuggets lost a close one to the Knicks in New York. With the Trail Blazers the only Northwest team in action tonight, let's round up a few links out of the division….
- The Trail Blazers weren't just searching for talent and chemistry in free agency this summer. The team was also targeting players with character, GM Neil Olshey tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. "It was very important that we brought in the right guys for the makeup of our team and we've done that," Olshey said. "Damian [Lillard] and Meyers [Leonard] couldn't have a better group of guys to look up to."
- While Kosta Koufos wasn't the best player the Nuggets acquired in the Carmelo Anthony trade, his play this season is proving he wasn't an inconsequential piece in that deal, writes Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post.
- George Karl has some regrets about the way he handled Raymond Felton's time with the Nuggets, says Fred Kerber of the New York Post.
- Michael Rand of the Star Tribune takes a look at five former Timberwolves that weren't able to stick around around during the team's recent makeover.
D-League Moves: Claver, Barton, Jackson
The Portland Trail Blazers have recalled rookie forwards Victor Claver and Will Barton from the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League, the team announced this morning.
Claver and Barton were sent down on Friday, and played in two games for the Stampede. Barton averaged 19.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 2.0 APG. Claver averaged 11.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 1.0 APG.
Here are the rest of the D-League moves from Sunday:
- The Thunder have recalled second-year guard Reggie Jackson from the Tulsa 66ers.
D-League Moves: Thunder, Barton, Claver, Leuer
We'll track today's D-League assignments and recalls here, with the latest moves up top. To keep tabs on all of this season's D-League assignments and recalls, check out our complete list.
- The Thunder have recalled Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones III, and Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers, the team announced today (Twitter link via Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports). Having recalled DeAndre Liggins from the D-League last week, the Thunder now don't have any players still on the 66ers' roster, though I'd imagine that won't last too long.
- The Trail Blazers have assigned Will Barton and Victor Claver to the Idaho Stampede, the team announced today (link via Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com). Of the two rookies, Barton has earned more playing time, averaging 8.8 MPG in 16 contests, while Claver has seen limited minutes in just five games. Both players will be with the Stampede for two games before rejoining Portland, according to GM Neil Olshey (Twitter link via Jason Quick of the Oregonian).
- The Cavaliers have assigned Jon Leuer to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Leuer will join the Canton Charge and be available for the club's game tomorrow. After being claimed off waivers by Cleveland in the offseason, Leuer has appeared in five games for the Cavs, averaging 3.2 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 14.4 minutes per contest. The 23-year-old will be the only member of the Cavs playing in the D-League for now, since the team recalled Kevin Jones earlier this week.
Odds & Ends: 76ers, English, Lowry, Blazers
A few Thursday evening odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Although it doesn't appear the team is considering outside options yet, coach Doug Collins and the 76ers are trying to figure out ways to improve the bench, writes Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com.
- Pistons rookie Kim English is open to the idea of playing in the D-League if that's what the team wants, as he tells Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press: "Whatever is asked of me, I will do."
- Of the summer's offseason additions, Kyle Lowry has been one of the most impressive, writes Mike Ulmer of Raptors.com. The Raptors point guard has been just as productive as many of the league's high-profile point guards, says Ulmer.
- After the Trail Blazers let three longtime front office employees go today, John Canzano of the Oregonian implores owner Paul Allen to commit to the current group and let them do their jobs.
Western Rumors: Cousins, Brown, Iguodala, Fisher
A matchup of fourth-place teams, as the Mavs travel to take on the Suns, is the only Western Conference tilt on a two-game night in the NBA, but the action off the court is much juicier. We delivered the latest on the Pau Gasol saga earlier this morning, and now here's more from the West.
- Slumping as he begins his third season, DeMarcus Cousins is nonetheless coveted by several teams around the league, according to Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee, who adds that the Kings remain uninterested in trading the 22-year-old center.
- Mike Brown, still owed $10MM from the Lakers after the team let him go just five games into the season, tells Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times that he'll eventually get back into coaching, but is in no rush.
- Andre Iguodala, who can exercise an early-termination option this summer, is a safer bet to remain with the Nuggets than Carmelo Anthony was as his deal neared an end, according to Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post.
- Joe Kaiser of ESPN.com, after examining all the other options, believes the Mavs' signing of Derek Fisher was sound (Insider only).
- The Blazers have already declined their 2013/14 option on Luke Babbitt, but they might have to give him another look as an unrestricted free agent next summer now that he's jumped into the rotation, observes Mike Tokito of The Oregonian.
- Rockets interim coach Kelvin Sampson reached out to Carlos Delfino during the summer and touted the ability for the Argentinian swingman to play a significant role with Houston, helping convince him to sign with the team. Jason Friedman of Rockets.com has the details.
Northwest Notes: Durant, Blazers, Stiemsma
The latest news and notes from around the Northwest Division on Wednesday evening:
- Kevin Durant tells Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman that he feels the Thunder have played well in adjusting to James Harden's absence.
- Abby Chin of CSNNW.com writes that Blazers coach Terry Stotts is trying to instill confidence in the team's bench, which has underperformed this season.
- Timberwolves center Greg Stiemsma reflects on his rookie season in Boston as they prepare to play the Celtics.
Odds & Ends: Allen, Wizards, Gasol, Blazers
Monday afternoon linkage..
- Despite their offseason additions, it's clear that the Celtics are still missing Ray Allen, Shams Charania of RealGM writes. The C's have been careful not to burden Jason Terry with the responsibility of being Allen's replacement, but it's clear that he falls short in areas where Allen would shine. “It’s obvious they miss Allen. His shooting, his scoring. Terry is not the consistent shooter Ray was," one longtime advance scout and former assistant coach said.
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis wrote an open letter to fans expressing support for the team's young players on his personal blog. While Leonsis says the club will look into making trades in order to help the club improve, he says the team "also must develop cohesion, chemistry and structure around a system with so many new and young players in the rotation."
- One hopeful Heat fan asked Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel if Miami could swing a trade for the Lakers' Pau Gasol. Such a deal would require Chris Bosh to make the number work and Bosh has proved to be far more willing to play the center position than Gasol.
- Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap offered up support for Blazers coach Terry Stotts, saying he's the perfect man for their "re-shaping" period, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. The Bobcats are one game under .500 while Portland sits at 7-10.
Odds & Ends: Martin, Blatche, Lillard, Gibson
The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Sunday evening:
- Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman writes that Kevin Martin is performing up to expectations since being acquired by the Thunder in the James Harden trade.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel thinks, in hindsight, that the Heat would have been wise to sign Andray Blatche this summer. Miami was held back by concerns about his effect on the locker room, as well as their belief in Josh Harrellson and Dexter Pittman, Winderman adds.
- Joe Freeman of the Oregonian admires the poise of Damian Lillard as the Trail Blazers rookie continues to impress.
- Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com likes what he's seen from Taj Gibson since signing a four-year extension with the Bulls.
- Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times adds to the praise of Gibson while also singling out Jimmy Butler for his defensive impact.
- Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun writes that Raptors bigs Amir Johnson and Ed Davis have not received due attention for their contributions.
- Rick Bonnell of the Oklahoman examines the Bobcats' defensive successes this season.
- Keith Langolis of Pistons.com says that rookie Kyle Singler has made a fan of head coach Lawrence Frank with his work ethic.
- Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle praises Patrick Patterson's improvement.