Jimmer Fredette, Kings Close To Buyout
10:31am: The Cavs are indeed interested in Fredette, according to a full story from Stein, who reiterates that the Bulls are also going after the sharpshooter. Stein hears Fredette is strongly considering a playoff-bound team in the East. Fredette and the Kings still haven’t reached agreement on a buyout, but that could happen as soon as today, sources tell Stein.
8:57am: The Cavs are unlikely to have interest in Fredette, unless today’s medical exams on the injured Dion Waiters and C.J. Miles go poorly, as Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal explains. Fredette wouldn’t want to sign with Cleveland anyway, according to an earlier report (linked below).
THURSDAY, 8:19am: The Bulls are a contender with an outside chance at landing Fredette, Stein tweets
1:01pm: The former BYU star is leaning against signing with the Grizzlies, according to Stein (on Twitter).
12:12pm: Fredette doesn’t have interest in joining the Cavs, Amico hears (Twitter link). Amico suggested Tuesday that Cleveland could get involved with the former BYU star, but it appears that’s not going to happen.
WEDNESDAY, 11:41am: The buyout is on track to be complete today, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
TUESDAY, 1:00pm: The Grizzlies are in on Fredette, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Memphis has pursued Fredette via trade since last season, Stein adds in a second tweet.
11:46am: The Cavs had interest in Fredette before the trade deadline, too, tweets Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, who suggests that Cleveland could be in the mix again, even though the trade talks didn’t make much progress. The Jazz have had no discussions about adding Fredette, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
11:32am: Some in the Warriors front office are high on Fredette, but the team is unlikely to have interest in signing him if he becomes a free agent, according to USA Today’s Sam Amick (Twitter link).
9:20am: The Nuggets had “significant” talks with the Kings about Fredette before the deadline, Wojnarowski notes, pointing out that Denver elected to trade for Aaron Brooks instead (Twitter link). Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders identifies the Knicks as a “team to watch” in a potential race for Fredette, citing New York’s desire to add three-point shooting as well as potential legal trouble surrounding Raymond Felton (Twitter links). Felton was arrested overnight and faces three counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
8:51am: Jimmer Fredette and the Kings are nearing a buyout agreement, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Several teams are expected to have interest in signing the former 10th overall pick for the rest of the season.
Fredette had been a frequent subject of trade rumors, but the Kings couldn’t find a taker for his expiring contract, worth $2,439,840 this year. The Kings declined his 2014/15 option before this season began, setting him up for unrestricted free agency this summer. Now it appears he’ll hit the market even sooner.
The one-time college superstar at BYU has yet to approach that kind of success in the NBA, averaging 7.0 points in 15.0 minutes per game over two and a half seasons. His minutes and scoring have declined in both seasons since his rookie year, and his numbers are just 5.9 PPG and 11.3 MPG in 2013/14. He’s nonetheless improved his three-point accuracy every year, and is up to an impressive 49.3% this season, albeit on just 73 attempts.
The timing of the news is somewhat surprising, since the Kings traded Marcus Thornton to the Nets last week and announced this weekend that Jason Terry will miss the rest of the season, which might have opened up minutes for Fredette. Still, Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum are all still competing for backcourt playing time.
Pacific Notes: Johnson, Lakers, Barnes
Pau Gasol and Mike D’Antoni have clashed at times with the Lakers, and D’Antoni wasn’t happy about Gasol’s latest complaints to the media after the team lost another game, according to Mark Medina of Inside the Lakers. “The thing I don’t appreciate is, I think every coach, you keep it in house,” D’Antoni said. “It’s very easy to come over and talk about your frustrations. We’ll try to work something out and figure something out. To go to you guys and do it in the papers, that’s disturbing. I don’t think that’s the way to go. I understand we’re all trying to solve the same problems. So let’s put our head together and do the best we can.” Gasol’s ongoing dissatisfaction with his role and the Lakers’ style of play under D’Antoni could factor into his decision making as an unrestricted free agent this summer. Here’s more from around the Pacific Division:
- Although Chris Kaman‘s minutes are down and his name was floated around before the trade deadline, Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com tweets that there are no talks of a buyout between Kaman and the Lakers (link). Shelburne says that Kaman enjoys playing for L.A.
- Harrison Barnes tells Diamond Leung of San Jose Mercury News there was helpful communication between him and the Warriors front office leading up to the trade deadline, and that he used the rumors surrounding him as motivation to play better. “They just told me obviously teams are inquiring, that’s pretty much it. I wasn’t really trying to like look through reports, figure out where I was going to go,” says Barnes. “It focuses you in a little bit more, keeps you locked in on what you’re doing and doesn’t really allow you to let your mind wander. Obviously I’ve been playing better as of late, so I obviously want to continue to do that.”
- The Kings hope that Orlando Johnson, whom they just signed to a 10-day contract, will immediately make his presence known with Sacramento, reports Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. Coach Michael Malone told Johnson to push his new teammates, something he’s prepared to do. “I knew what I was coming here for,” Johnson said. “I want to go at everybody. I’m coming in to stick and I’m going to show them I’m going to be a player in this league.”
Kings Likely To Sign Royce White
8:42pm: Coach Michael Malone tells Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee that while the Kings are indeed interested in White, they won’t be signing him “soon” and that nothing is imminent (via Twitter). It’s unclear if this just in line with the wait for a roster spot to open upon Fredette’s finalized buyout, or if more substantial time could pass before Sacramento pulls the trigger on a deal with White.
1:49pm: The Kings will probably sign Royce White to a 10-day contract, two sources tell Sam Amick of USA Today. White has worked out in front of team officials, as Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday. Since the Kings just filled their final roster spot with the signing of Orlando Johnson to a 10-day deal, White would most likely sign after the team finalizes a buyout with Jimmer Fredette.
A deal with the Kings would open the door for White to see the first regular season action of his career. The Rockets made him the 16th overall pick in 2012, but he had a well-publicized spat with the team over its accommodations, or lack thereof, for his mental health issues. Houston traded him to the Sixers this past summer, and Philadelphia waived him before opening night, swallowing his guaranteed rookie scale contract that pays the 22-year-old about $1.7MM this year.
White said in December that “quite a few” NBA teams were interested in him, and that he’d prioritize signing with a club that had an open mind about his mental health advocacy. Sacramento begins a seven-game road trip against mostly Eastern Conference teams on March 5th, but White also said in December that his fear of flying has been “overblown.”
The former Iowa State Cyclone recently changed agents, dropping ASM Sports to join George Bass of AAI Sports, as our Agency Database shows. He appeared in 16 games in the D-League on assignment from the Rockets, and he’s played in the preseason for Houston and Philadelphia, but more than 70% of Hoops Rumors readers who voted shortly after his release from the Sixers believed he would never make it into a regular season game.
Kings Sign Orlando Johnson To 10-Day Pact
WEDNESDAY, 1:47pm: The team has officially announced the deal.
TUESDAY, 9:26pm: The Kings will sign guard Orlando Johnson to a 10-day contract tomorrow, according to Sean Cunningham of News10 Sacramento (Twitter link passed along from Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee). The 24-year-old Monterey native last played for the Pacers, averaging 2.4 PPG and 9.0 MPG in 38 games this season.
Coincidentally, Johnson had been selected by the Kings during the second round of the 2012 draft but was quickly sent to the Pacers for cash considerations on a draft day deal. Indiana waived the 6’5 guard last week in order to make their trade for Evan Turner work.
Pacific Notes: Suns, Smith, Gasol, Kings
The Suns have what it takes to attract top-level free agents, as team president of basketball operations Lon Babby tells Bob Young of The Arizona Republic.
“I don’t think we ever lost our status as a destination, because of the history of the franchise, the weather, the medical and training staff,” Babby said. “Those are constants that make it an attractive place. I wouldn’t deny that we have enhanced our position. I think we were always above average. Now I think we’re in the upper echelon because there’s an excitement and a spirit about the atmosphere and the culture here that is palpable.”
Young thinks Kevin Love should be the team’s next free agent target, though that would require waiting until the summer of 2015. In the meantime, here’s more on the Suns and their Pacific Division rivals:
- Ish Smith is poised to spend an entire season with a single NBA team for the first time in his four-year career, and he’s been an important contributor for the Suns, as fellow Republic scribe Paul Coro examines. Smith’s deal is non-guaranteed for next season.
- Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times interprets Pau Gasol‘s postgame comments Tuesday as veiled criticism of Mike D’Antoni, but Gasol didn’t hide his thoughts about whether all the expiring contracts the Lakers have are creating a negative atmosphere. “Probably. That’s part of it,” Gasol said. “But that’s why you have to be disciplined and implement discipline. That’s how you kind of make that better or make that not a factor. I don’t think there’s a lot of discipline right now.”
- It’s as if Kings executives think that they should keep making moves until they get it right, opines Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee, who examines the team’s decision to let go of Jimmer Fredette and audition others on 10-day contracts. Sacramento is set to sign Orlando Johnson and reportedly worked out Royce White.
Kings Work Out Royce White
The Kings worked out forward Royce White and could sign him once Jimmer Fredette clears waivers, hears Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). Although the expected signing of Orlando Johnson puts Sacramento at the 15-player roster limit, the team will have another spot open if they reach a buyout agreement with Fredette.
White, selected 16th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, has yet to appear in a single regular season game. The 6’8 forward was traded to the 76ers last July but was eventually cut from the team shortly before the start of the 2013/14 season.
Central Notes: Irving, Billups, Bucks
Kyrie Irving denies that he wants out of Cleveland, but those close to him have long made it known that he’d like to play elsewhere, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. Some members of the Cavs organization aren’t sure that he’s deserving of a maximum-salary contract, though it’s likely that Cleveland will seek to extend Irving this summer and make him its Designated Player, Windhorst writes. The starting salary in such a deal would have to be for the max. Irving may prefer to sign a shorter deal that gives him the ability to opt out and hit unrestricted free agency more quickly, as Windhorst examines in a piece that looks forward to what promises to be one of the offseason’s marquee story lines. Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Chauncey Billups hopes to make it back from a torn left meniscus this season, but he acknowledges the injury may prompt him to retire, MLive’s David Mayo observes. The Pistons hold a team option worth $2.5MM for the final season of their contract with Billups next year.
- Former Bucks swingman Junior Bridgeman is interested in buying a minority stake in the team, reports Don Walker of the Journal Sentinel, who adds that the Bucks are high on the idea, too. Owner Herb Kohl has been seeking investors willing to buy minority shares of the team. Bridgeman owns a share of the Kings that he would have to divest before buying into the Bucks.
- Mike D’Antoni spoke to Pacers assistant coach Nate McMillan about a gig on the Lakers staff before he took his job with Indiana, as McMillan tells Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.
Knicks Rumors: Fredette, ‘Melo, World Peace
It’s a “no-brainer” that Carmelo Anthony will re-sign with the Knicks, Metta World Peace believes. Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com and Frank Isola of the New York Daily News have more from the former Ron Artest, whom the Knicks waived Monday in a buyout arrangement, and there’s news about Anthony’s future as well as we look at the latest on the struggling Knicks:
- The Knicks haven’t ruled out pursuing Fredette, but the team will focus on upgrading its defense as it looks to fill its pair of open roster spots, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
Earlier updates:
- No one with ties to the Knicks believes Anthony will leave the team this summer, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who notes that Anthony’s agent, Leon Rose, spoke with Knicks GM Steve Mills and assistant GM Allan Houston on Monday night.
- World Peace says the Knicks never gave him a fair chance to play, but he adds that he never demanded more minutes. “My thing was I want to play two more seasons,” World Peace explained to Isola. “If I’m not playing this year I’m definitely not going to play next year, so I should probably go somewhere else. I wanted to win here. When you’re married to a city like New York City, just because (people don’t agree) doesn’t mean you turn your back on the city. My agent told me Steve Mills said that he understands why being moved would be a good thing.” World Peace, who was on a two-year contract with the Knicks, has previously said he wants to play five more seasons.
- The Knicks are seeking three-point shooting, as we noted earlier today when a report linked them to Jimmer Fredette, who’s close to a buyout from the Kings. The team may also be in need of a point guard stemming from Raymond Felton‘s arrest on gun charges Monday night. Acting union executive director Ron Klempner is nonetheless already indicating that the Knicks would face resistance if they tried to discipline Felton at this point, as Marc Berman of the New York Post reports.
Eastern Notes: Heat, Iverson, Miller
The Heat essentially stood pat at the trade deadline. Outside of shipping Roger Mason Jr. to the Kings for a highly protected second-round pick, they didn’t do much to add to their rotation. The next few weeks could be as intriguing as some of the past offseasons have been for the Heat when it comes to personnel and rounding out the bench, as the team sorely needs to add some depth, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. Winderman believes the team needs to add another wing player amid the current shaky shooting from both Shane Battier and Ray Allen.
More from around the east:
- The Celtics continue to keep close tabs on Colton Iverson, the team’s second round pick in 2013, writes Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe. The 7-footer is playing with Besiktas of the Turkish League, and in 18 games, he’s averaging 6.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG and 3.1 APG over 17.3 MPG. Iverson is playing overseas because the Celtics didn’t have enough room on their roster to keep him after the draft, but the team likes his aggressive play, and he still factors into their future plans, opines Holmes.
- Carmelo Anthony was surprised at the news the Knicks would be buying out the contracts of Beno Udrih and Metta World Peace, writes Matt Winkeljohn of ESPNNewYork.com. Anthony stated, “It’s sad to see them go, but this is the business of basketball … it happened, and we’ve got to move on. The buyouts kind of surprised me because [Friday] Metta seemed like he was in a good place. He was happy, he played . . . he was a different Metta.”
- Andre Miller scored five points, and dished out three assists in his first game with the Wizards. They’re not huge numbers, but he is already making a big impact with his new team, writes J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. The team’s rotation has changed, and the offense ran smoother than it had been when John Wall was off the court, but Miller’s biggest contribution may be him mentoring Wall, opines Michael. Wall stated, “That’s a guy you can learn from. It’s a guy that loves the game and is still playing at 37. I hope I can be playing at 37.“
Jason Terry Out For Season
SATURDAY, 12:21pm: The Kings have officially announced Terry’s choice to rehab rather than join the Kings for the remainder of the year, via their official site.
FRIDAY, 11:03pm: Kings coach Michael Malone said on his weekly radio interview that the recently acquired Jason Terry will not join the team for the remainder of the year, according to Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. Terry has opted to rehab in preparation for next season, saying he has yet to recover from a knee surgery he underwent in the offseason. Jones also reports that the team has no plans to buy out Terry’s contract, which was a rumored possibility. Terry’s contract has one year remaining beyond this season at approximately $5.5MM.
The 36-year-old’s 2013/14 season will go down as the worst of his career to this point, with career-low averages in nearly every major statistical category. Terry came to the Nets from the Celtics, in the summer blockbuster deal that also sent future Hall-of-Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn. Once one of the premier sixth-man scorers in the league, he has failed to make much of an impact with the Celtics or Nets in recent years.
Terry was acquired by the Kings at the trade deadline along with Reggie Evans, in exchange for shooting guard Marcus Thornton. The Wasserman Media Group client will need to show significant improvement next year if he wishes to extend his career at all, a career that has included 11 seasons above 15 PPG and a crucial role in the Mavs’ 2011 championship season.