Sam Smith On Howard, Bulls, Gasol, Lowry
Bulls.com scribe Sam Smith has a new column up today, which includes plenty of news, notes, and rumors from around the NBA. Let's dive in….
- Brooklyn is still considered the likeliest destination for Dwight Howard, though teams like the Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Warriors may be willing to risk renting D12 for a year. The Magic are expected to make another run at retaining Howard once the team has a new GM in place.
- Smith hears from "Lakers insiders" that Pau Gasol would be interested in playing for the Bulls. He adds that Gasol and Kobe Bryant were "constantly at odds" in Los Angeles this season.
- If the Bulls and Lakers were to discuss a Gasol deal, Luol Deng would have to be the centerpiece rather than Carlos Boozer, says Smith.
- NBA general managers previously rejected a rule that would allow players to touch the ball on the rim, but that idea could be revisited now that the league has introduced a new competition comittee.
- Kyle Lowry appears on his way out of Houston, according to Smith, who says the Rockets were "quietly shopping" the point guard before his injury this season. The Rockets would like to re-sign Goran Dragic, who isn't interested in returning as a backup.
Michael Malone Interested In Trail Blazers
Coveted head coach candidate Michael Malone has already interviewed with the Bobcats for their opening, and it likely won't be his last job interview this summer. For his part, the Warriors assistant could be eyeing one position in particular. According to Chris B. Haynes of CSNNW.com, Malone would have a "great deal" of interest in the Trail Blazers' head coaching job.
Malone's agent Steve Kauffman declined comment on his client's interest in the position, but acknowledged that the Portland job would be a desirable one: "The Blazers have great ownership, it's a beautiful diverse city and probably has the best fans in the NBA."
The Blazers haven't begun to search for a head coach in earnest yet, since the team is still interviewing general manager candidates, with the new GM expected to play a role in hiring a coach. Interim coach Kalab Canales currently holds the position, though it would be surprising if Portland didn't make an outside hire this summer.
Blazers president Larry Miller confirmed to Haynes that the team is focused primarily on finding a new GM. Miller added, however, that if a coach of interest is available, the Blazers won't hesitate to pursue him.
Odds & Ends: Magic, Van Gundy, Nets
The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Tuesday night:
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel speculates that the Magic will look for an experienced, patient general manager to replace Otis Smith.
- The Oregonian's John Canzano likes the idea of Stan Van Gundy as the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, but cautions that on-court talent should be the team's main focus.
- Fred Kerber of the New York Post relays Nets coach Avery Johnson's optimism that the team will make the playoffs in 2012/13.
Draft Notes: Combine, Machado, Jones, Blazers
Many members of last year's draft class received recognition for their first NBA seasons today, when the league announced its All-Rookie squads. Kyrie Irving, Ricky Rubio, Kenneth Faried, Klay Thompson, Brandon Knight, Iman Shumpert, and Kawhi Leonard all earned first-team honors due to a three-way tie for the fifth spot. The second team consisted of Chandler Parsons, MarShon Brooks, Derrick Williams, Tristan Thompson, and Isaiah Thomas. Here's the latest on the 2012 draft class that will be eligible for All-Rookie accolades a year from now:
- HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy interviews Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, who says he believes himself worthy of the top overall pick.
- Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio examines Jared Sullinger's potential to succeed at the NBA level.
- The NBA announced all the players who will participate in the Chicago draft combine on June 7th and 8th, and Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com passes along the list. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com points out (via Twitter) that, besides #58 Casper Ware, the top 67 prospects on DraftExpress' top 100 were all invited to Chicago.
- Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider link) takes note of a few prospects who may have improved their stocks during the weekend workouts in New Jersey. Iona point guard Scott Machado tops Ford's list.
- Teams need to be careful of being wowed by Perry Jones' individual workouts and drafting him too high, one scout tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
- 2012 represents the Trail Blazers' most important draft since they selected Greg Oden in 2007, writes Joel Odom of the Oregonian.
- Don't forget to follow Hoops Rumors' Prospect Profile series, where we've taken a closer look at many of the players expected to be drafted in the first round next month.
Latest On Trail Blazers’ GM Search
4:03pm: Mullin is not a candidate for the Blazers' GM opening, a source tells Haynes.
3:45pm: Blazers president Larry Miller says the team's process won't be accelerated or modified now that another team (the Magic) has interest in some of the candidates Portland has interviewed. Miller told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com that he and owner Paul Allen could meet with a couple more candidates this week.
1:35pm: Earlier this month, Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reported that the Trail Blazers were eyeing current Hawks general manager Rick Sund for their GM opening. However, it doesn't appear that the interest is mutual. Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com hears from a source that the Blazers' job is "not in [Sund's] plans."
Broussard initially reported that the Hawks denied the Blazers permission to speak to Sund because the team was still alive in the playoffs. It sounded at the time like that stance could change after the club's season ended, but it doesn't appear that the Hawks GM will interview for the Portland job. Sund's current deal in Atlanta expires on June 30th, so the two sides are in talks about a new contract. However, Haynes hears that retirement is also a possibility for the 60-year-old.
As for the Blazers' other potential targets, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (Twitter link) reports that former Warriors GM Chris Mullin is in the mix for the Portland position. It's not clear yet if or when Mullin will be interviewing for the job.
Odds & Ends: Ainge, Gasol, Bird Rights, Shaw
It's been a busy night both on and off the court in the NBA, as the Lakers appear to be on their way to elimination at the hands of the Thunder, while the Magic are making wholesale management changes. Here's the rest of the late-night story:
- The Blazers have not asked for permission from the Celtics to speak with Danny Ainge about their GM opening, Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com tweets.
- The Rockets remain interested in trading for Pau Gasol, salary cap guru Larry Coon says, via Twitter.
- Coon also believes the union will not prevail in its quest to secure Bird rights for players who were claimed off waivers (Twitter link).
- Pacers assistant Brian Shaw is drawing interest for head coaching positions elsewhere, but the Pacers place a high value on him, Chris Mannix of SI.com notes (Twitter link).
- Jason Fleming of HoopsWorld profiles the top five vote-getters for Executive of the Year.
GM Rumors: Blazers, Sund, Kupchak, Stern
There's been plenty of front office news of late, so let's get right to the weekend's updates:
- Hawks GM Rick Sund, whose contract with the team is up, has told the Hawks he's had no contact with the Blazers about their GM opening, according to Jason Quick of The Oregonian (Twitter link). Last week we heard the Blazers had asked for permission to speak with Sund, but the Hawks, who were still in the playoffs at the time, turned them down.
- Quick also tweets that the Blazers have not asked for permission to interview Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak for the position.
- Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News writes that the NBA's new competition committee represents a power play by commissioner David Stern, who felt the old committee made up of the league's 30 GM's was too large to influence, Lawrence says. The commissioner would like to see the league adopt international goaltending rules and cut down on flopping, according to the report.
Odds & Ends: Oden, Magic, Jones, Bucks, Bosh
Links from around the league..
- Earlier today we learned that Greg Oden will be undergoing a radical knee procedure to revive his career, but Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge (via Twitter) points out that the Trail Blazers were considering the operation way back in February.
- Some out of the box thinking from Alex Kennedy of Hoops World (via Twitter) as he suggests that the Magic look into trading for Dwyane Wade or LeBron James this summer. However, Kennedy doesn't envision the Heat being forced to blow everything up.
- Kentucky's Terrence Jones would give the Bucks some badly needed toughness, writes David Thorpe of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required).
- Chris Bosh may have seemed like a third wheel to some, but the Heat are really missing the forward now, writes Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
Blazers Notes: Lin, Oden, Batum, Hickson
It's a huge offseason for the Trail Blazers as they look to hire their next general manager and build from the ground up. Earlier this week, Luke Adams gave us an overview of what Portland will be facing this summer. Here's a look at the latest on the Blazers…
- Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com wonders if the Blazers will go after point guard Jeremy Lin. Lin is likely to be retained by the Knicks but could be handcuffed by keeping him if the NBA players association's argument does not go in their favor.
- Former Blazers center Greg Oden recently underwent the controversial knee procedure that Kobe Bryant underwent, sources told Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. Bryant has credited the operation with taking years of wear off of his body. Oden is not considering retirement, and while it's possible he could play by the middle of next season, there is no timetable for his return.
- Team president Larry Miller joined Chad Doing on 750 AM The Game this morning and Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge has the goods. Miller discussed the futures of Nicolas Batum and J.J. Hickson and the club's ownership situation.
Odds & Ends: Kings, Batum, Bird, Ewing, Spurs
Let's keep track of some Thursday night odds and ends here as Heat-Pacers gets underway. The Clippers will look to rebound from a dissapointing game one loss later tonight in San Antonio.
- Aaron Bruski of NBC Sports writes a piece providing great detail about the unfortunate business practices of the Maloofs with regard to the NBA franchise situation in Sacramento. Bruski says the Maloofs actions could lead the NBA to force them into selling.
- The agent of Nicolas Batum will have all the leverage in negotiations with the Blazers this summer, writes John Canzano of the Oregonian. Batum will become a restricted free agent in the offseason.
- Conrad Brunner from Pacers.com extols Larry Bird in an in depth look at the Pacers' President. In light of Wednesday's announcement that Bird won the 2012 NBA Executive of the Year award, Brunner says that the former Celtic great is as discreetly brilliant as a roster builder as he was as a player and coach. He credits Bird with changing the organizational culture by drafting wisely with middle of the first round picks and carefully managing the salary cap.
- As we mentioned yesterday, Patrick Ewing interviewed for the vacant Bobcats' job today. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer says that Ewing, a prototypical NBA big man as a player, would be a coaching rarity should be get the job.
- According to the New York Post, Charlotte owner and Ewing friend Michael Jordan did not plan to sit in on the interview. The Post adds that the Bobcats will also interview Memphis assistant Dave Joerger on Friday and have already interviewed Michael Malone, Nate Tibbetts, Mike Dunlap, Stephen Silas and has expressed interest in Brian Shaw.
- A group of ESPN.com writers offered their take on the greatness of the San Antonio Spurs. The three popular picks for the biggest reasons for the organization's success are Tim Duncan, Greg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford, with honorable mention going to Tony Parker and owner Peter Holt. Teams should look no further than San Antonio for a blueprint on how to build a team.