Pacific Notes: Patterson, Warriors, Clips, Bledsoe
On the heels of signings by the Lakers and Clippers, let's round up a few more Thursday items out of the Pacific Division….
- Kings forward Patrick Patterson, who had previously been represented by Odell McCants, has signed with Excel Sports Management and agent Sam Goldfeder, according to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal (via Twitter).
- Moke Hamilton of HoopsWorld examines what the addition of Andre Iguodala to the Warriors means for Harrison Barnes' role and development.
- In revamping their bench this offseason, the Clippers appeared to prioritize offense over defense, as Jovan Buha of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes. Although L.A. has as much depth on paper as any Western contender, the defensive limitations of the team's bench may reduce its lineup flexibility, says Buha.
- Former teammate Jamal Crawford believes Eric Bledsoe is headed for stardom, but the 2013/14 season will be the first chance for the Suns point guard to prove as much, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
Chris Mullin Joins Kings’ Front Office
Chris Mullin has officially joined the Kings front office, the team announced today in a press release, naming the Hall-of-Famer advisor to the chairman. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported yesterday that the Kings would be hiring Mullin in a formal capacity.
"It isn't everyday that a franchise has the opportunity to add an individual of Chris' caliber and reputation," GM Pete D'Alessandro said in a statement. "His passion for the game, unflagging work ethic and will to win, ever-present characteristics which helped define him as one of the NBA's premier players for nearly 20 years, will have a contagious effect on our entire organization."
Mullin becomes the latest in a line of ex-Warriors to join the Kings over the last several months. Vivek Ranadive, the Kings' owner and chairman, previously held a minority stake in the Warriors, while head coach Michael Malone was formerly an assistant in Golden State. As for D'Alessandro, it was Mullin who initially hired him as a Warriors executive in 2004.
According to the Kings' press release, Mullin will take on a number of responsibilities relating to basketball operations. He is expected to advise both Ranadive and D'Alessandro "regarding player transactions and apprising front office and coaching personnel of the team's collegiate and professional scouting efforts."
Western Rumors: Odom, Wolves, Kings, Lee, Mavs
Jordan Farmar tells Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com that he and other former teammates of Lamar Odom haven't heard back from the free agent forward amid ominous reports about his off-court issues. McMenamin also shares reflections on Odom from other current and former Lakers figures, and the scribe finishes with a touching personal anecdote about his interaction with the forward. Of course, Odom isn't the only NBA player dealing with trouble these days. About half of Hoops Rumors readers believe Michael Beasley is worth a look from their favorite teams, so perhaps there's a chance Odom can make it back to the NBA. Here's more from around the Western Conference:
- Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor tells Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (Twitter link) that the club doesn't have any interest in bringing in a veteran free agent as a 15th man, preferring to keep that last roster spot open for a young player.
- A labor agreement for the construction of a new Kings arena in Sacramento was announced today, as expected, but the head of a group that opposes such agreements says they may donate to the same anti-arena petition effort that Seattle investor Chris Hansen funded. Ryan Lillis and Dale Kasler of The Sacramento Bee have the details.
- David Lee's offseason hip surgery revealed the injury he suffered in the playoffs was even worse than previously thought, but he's already back to 100% and working out with most of his Warriors teammates, as Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group reports.
- The Mavericks have hired Wizards scout Mike Wilson in a player personnel role, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
- We rounded up a few items from the Pacific Division earlier today.
Pacific Notes: Kings, Mullin, Frye, Suns, Beasley
As the opening of training camps inches a little closer, let's round up the latest items out of the Pacific Division…
- After having previously acted as a consultant for the Kings, Chris Mullin will join the team's front office in a more formal capacity, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Mullin's role as a senior advisor to GM Pete D'Alessandro and owner Vivek Ranadive figures to expand once the team makes the hiring official, says Stein.
- Meanwhile, Kings ownership and local labor unions have reached an agreement related to the construction of Sacramento's new Downtown Plaza arena, as detailed by Ryan Lillis and Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee. Officials with the Kings, the city, building trades unions and Turner Construction are prepared to announce the agreement later today, according to the Bee report.
- Channing Frye tells Kris Habbas of Bright Side of the Sun that after missing last season with a heart condition, he has been cleared by "numerous doctors" and that a decision on when he'll return to the court is in the Suns' hands.
- The Suns made the right move to cut ties with Michael Beasley, and it would still have been prudent even if Beasley hadn't agreed to reduce his salary in the buyout, the Arizona Republic's Bob Young opines. Meanwhile, Tom Ziller of SBNation.com argues that Beasley is an example of why incentive-based deals should be more common in the NBA.
- Last night, we looked at a few updates relating to the Lakers and Clippers.
Extension Candidate: Greivis Vasquez
Marc Stein of ESPN.com last week tweeted a list of players whom GMs see as legitimate candidates for rookie-scale extensions, and perhaps the most surprising name on it is Greivis Vasquez. He was the runner-up in Most Improved Player of the Year balloting and finished third in assists per game in his first year as a full-time point guard last season, but there are many who don't view him as a budding star. Pelicans GM Dell Demps and the rest of the team's front office apparently don't, since they gave up Nerlens Noel and a 2014 first-rounder to replace Vasquez at the point with Jrue Holiday, then shipped the former Maryland Terrapin to the Kings as part of the Tyreke Evans sign-and-trade.
Holiday scored more often last season, but he did so on a greater number of shot attempts, and he and Vasquez had nearly an identical field goal percentage. Holiday had the edge on three-point percentage, while Vasquez averaged one more assist per game. The most significant difference between the two players is probably their contracts; Holiday is entering the first season of a four-year, $41MM extension, while Vasquez has one more year left on his rookie deal. The Kings point guard probably has less room for improvement, since he's about two and a half years older, but the fact that the Pelicans gave up so much in the swap with Philadelphia indicates that they strongly believe the former Sixer is the better value. In any case, it seems unlikely that Sacramento GM Pete D'Alessandro and agent Arn Tellem, who reps Vasquez, work out a deal that pays as much as Holiday's does.
The strongest argument against a lucrative investment in Vasquez is his defense. The Pelicans (then Hornets) were woeful at stopping other teams with him in the lineup last season, giving up 108.8 points per 100 possessions, a mark that would have been worse than every other team in the league except the Bobcats if the number were extrapolated. New Orleans checked in at 28th in that category anyway, but when Vasquez went to the bench, the team only gave up 104.5 points per 100 possessions, a mark better than nine teams.
Sandwiched between New Orleans and Charlotte in that category last year was Sacramento, so there won't be much surrounding Vasquez to make up for his defensive shortcomings. The Kings also added Luc Mbah a Moute this summer, but they're going to need a lot more than that to improve on defensive. Complicating matters is that Sacramento's other rookie-scale extension candidate, Demarcus Cousins, was an even worse sieve last season, as the Kings gave up 109.5 points per 100 possessions with him on the court. It's hard to envision Sacramento having much success with a pair of defensive liabilities tied to long-term deals for major money, so unless D'Alessandro and company envision a major improvement for one or both of them, the Kings probably won't hand out extensions to more than one of them.
Cousins would probably be the team's first choice based on physical talent alone, but if the Kings don't feel like he can overcome his mental lapses, Vasquez offers some intriguing offensive value. The native of Venezuela improved his shot selection this past season, ditching midrange attempts for shots at the rim and behind the three-point arc. He's gradually built himself into a competent three-point shooter, improving from 29.1% accuracy as a rookie to 34.2% last year. His assist percentage, an estimate of the share of his teammate's shots that he assisted upon, trailed only Chris Paul, per Basketball-Reference. Many of Vasquez's assists came courtesy of his 6'6" height, which allows him to make passes other point guards can't, as Grantland's Zach Lowe pointed out this summer.
The Kings have had a revolving door at point guard the past few seasons, and ostensibly Vasquez brings some stability to the position. Isaiah Thomas is entering a walk year, and Jimmer Fredette keeping popping up in trade rumors. Still, D'Alessandro may want to see what he has in those two guys before he locks himself into Vasquez for years to come. Point guard might be a relatively weak position in the upcoming draft class, with only four point men listed among Jonathan Givony's top 25 prospects at DraftExpress (and that includes Dante Exum, who might not be part of the field), but the NBA is crowded with talented one-guards these days.
Vasquez may be willing to capitalize on his success last year and take a steep discount, perhaps opening himself up to an extension worth less than $8MM a year, which was the cheapest average annual value among the extensions signed last offseason. Even so, the Kings are probably better off taking a pass, and seeing whether their new point guard can help them creep up from the dregs of the Western Conference, or if Thomas or Fredette can have third-year breakthroughs similar to the one Vasquez had in 2012/13.
Pacific Notes: Suns, Beasley, Fredette, Kings
When Ryan McDonough was hired as the Suns' new general manager earlier this offseason, he didn't exactly have a low bar to clear, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. Coro's latest column examines the track record of McDonough's predecessor, Lance Blanks, noting that many of the players acquired by Blanks have since departed for little or no return.
Even the successful signings and acquisitions made during Blanks' tenure can often be attributed to someone else in the front office, according to Coro, who says that owner Robert Sarver was more responsible for the addition of Goran Dragic than Blanks, who wanted Raymond Felton.
Here's more on the Suns, plus a couple other links from around the Pacific Division:
- Because the Suns didn't waive Michael Beasley on or before August 31st, the team will now pay off his $6MM salary for this season at normal intervals, but would still be able to stretch the $3MM he's owed for 2014/15, as Randy Hill of FOX Sports Arizona details.
- Jimmer Fredette is among the "make-or-break" players highlighted by Zach Lowe in his latest piece for Grantland. Fourth-year option decisions are due on Fredette and others before the end of October, and if the Kings decide not to pick up that 2014/15 option, the 2011 lottery pick would hit unrestricted free agency next summer.
- The Kings have agreed to hire Joel Abelson to coach their D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Abelson was the head coach of the D-League's Sioux Falls Skyforce last season.
- Despite his recent off-court issues, former Clipper Lamar Odom deserves more than to be written off as an NBA player, says Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times.
Pacific Notes: Kings, Lakers, Fredette, Salmons
New Kings coach Michael Malone sat down with Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee over the weekend for a very interesting chat on the events that led up to his hiring and his vision for the future of the club. Kings fans haven’t seen their club in the postseason in seven years and they’ve had to deal with speculation over a possible move for the last couple, but things finally seem to be heading in the right direction for Sacramento. Here’s more out of the Pacific Division..
- Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld looks at trade situations to look out for in 2013/14 and writes that the Lakers have a few pieces that could be in play. They have some attractive expiring contracts in Steve Blake ($4MM), Jordan Hill ($3.5MM), and Jodie Meeks ($1.55MM) that could hold value around the trade deadline when the deals have mostly been paid off by the Lakers. None of those three are going net a major return, but a team with playoff aspirations might be willing to deal for one of them as a rental.
- Kyler also looks at the Kings, who are no longer focused on moving DeMarcus Cousins and see him as a big part of their future. They are rumored to be ready to move on from Jimmer Fredette, but he’ll have to play well early in the season to have trade value. John Salmons could be a trade chip as he makes $7.58MM this year with just $1MM of his $7MM in guaranteed in the following season.
- After playing in the Las Vegas and Orlando summer leagues, forward C.J. Aiken has decided to go to mini-camp with the Kings, the St. Joseph’s product tells Garrett Miley of City Of Basketball Love.
Washburn On Bucks, Johnson, Wilcox
In today's column, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes that much of the Bucks success lies on the capable shoulders of Larry Sanders. The big man inked a four-year, $44MM deal with Milwaukee this offseason that will put him at the center of a very different team than the one that went to the playoffs this past season. “He’s one of the key, if not the key, piece for us moving forward,” GM John Hammond said of Sanders. “Larry is one of the top shot-blockers in our business. And I think he’s only going to get better defensively. We’re really excited to have him part of our organization, moving forward long term.”
In an Eastern Conference where the Celtics and Hawks in rebuilding mode, and the Magic, 76ers, and Bobcats are lottery-bound, teams like the Bucks , Cavs , Pistons, Wizards, and Raptors will have an opportunity to take a step forward, in Washburn's estimation. Here's more from today's column..
- The fact that former Hawks forward Ivan Johnson couldn't land a mini mid-level deal despite being a solid 29-year-old rebounder is an indication that it will be a tough market for the remaining free agents looking for more than the minimum. Teams with salary-cap space would much rather invest money in younger players and prospects than veterans while contenders have filled their rosters, leaving only training camp invitations. There's also speculation that teams are wary of the luxury-tax threshold with the increased penalties brought on by the new CBA. The Celtics are one team that has been in the process of shedding salary – like Shavlik Randolph and Terrence Williams – for that reason.
- Former Celtics veteran Chris Wilcox is still without a club as September gets underway and he'll have to find a home rather quickly. While he wants to play in the NBA, he's open to other possibilities. “I am open to going overseas,” Wilcox said. “At the same time, I would love to stay here in the NBA. If it’s something that I have to do, then I’ll do it.”
- Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who was appointed as GM of the Kings' D-League affiliate, could be an NBA GM candidate in the coming years. The retired forward has been in the Sacramento front office the past three seasons and has been considered a rising exec. It's worth noting that Abdur-Rahim stayed in the Sacramento front office in the face of the team’s ownership and coaching change.
Michael Malone On Ranadive, D’Alessandro, Petrie
It has been a whirlwind year for the Kings, but at long last, it looks like the franchise has found some stability. The tug of war between Sacramento and Seattle is through and the Kings are staying put in California's capital behind recently-minted owner Vivek Ranadive. There are some major changes on the floor, too, with star Tyreke Evans departing for New Orleans and Michael Malone replacing Keith Smart as head coach. Malone took some time to sit down with Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee to discuss his new challenge. Here's a look at some of the highlights..
When the sale to the Ranadive-led group was finalized, did you think you had a chance at the job?
It's funny, but I remember my father telling me, "You are always working for your next job. Somebody is always watching." And unbeknownst to me, here is Vivek these past two years, watching me at practices, watching me at games. But really, it's not like we were talking on the phone all the time. The most time we ever spent together was on draft night (2012). We were sitting in the war room in Oakland, and we talked for a while. We saw things in a very similar way, and we created a bond, a relationship that night, that led to this.
You were more involved with the NBA draft and recent offseason moves than most head coaches. Do you expect to maintain that degree of input?
You've heard Vivek say that a lot of coaches aren't that involved, but that they need to be involved because they're the guys who have to coach. The first couple weeks – and Geoff Petrie and his staff were terrific in a very uncomfortable situation – we didn't have a GM at the time. I felt like I was head coach and GM. So I was very, very happy when we hired Pete [D'Alessandro]. He came in immediately and was asking: "Who did you like during the workout? What do you think?" We had constant communication on the draft and free agency.
How well did you know D'Alessandro before he was hired?
Not much. I had heard about him, being another New York guy. And I heard a lot of good things about him when he was at Golden State and Denver. But that was it. The neat thing about Pete for me … a lot of guys probably look at this job a little differently, because I was hired before the GM, but he was fine with that.
People were talking quite a bit about the head coach being hired before the GM. Was that awkward for you?
The reality is some people would be turned off by that. Is it the norm? No. But it's not like it never happens. The thing I love about Pete … there's no egos here because at the end of the day it's going to be us. We get the job done or we don't. We both know we need each other to get this thing turned around. And we have an owner who believes in us and is giving us everything we need to succeed. If we don't have that, we have no chance.
So what is your approach? Do you have a two-year plan? A five-year plan?
This is going to be a process. We have to change the culture, establish an identity, and while we'll try to win every night, we don't want to skip steps. We don't want short-term success. I'm not sure what year we get into our new arena, but by that year, we want to be a playoff team, and not to just be competing in the playoffs. We've talked about that. We know we have to have patience to do it right. Are our young guys getting better? Are we defending? Gang- rebounding? Running with discipline? The only thing I promised Vivek is that we will no longer be the worst defensive team in the league. So if we do that and change our culture, that will result in more wins and a better product.
Odds & Ends: Abdur-Rahim, Kazemi, Butler
release, former NBA All-Star and Kings' director of player
personnel Shareef Abdur-Rahim has
been named as the general manager of the Reno Bighorns, which serves as Sacramento's D-League affilliate. Abdur-Rahim will be joined by Chris Gilbert,
who was named assistant general manager. Here are some more of this evening's miscellaneous news and notes:
- Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that the 76ers could still send second-round pick Arsalan Kazemi overseas for the coming season.
- Caron Butler is "thoroughly excited" about returning home to Wisconsin to play for the Bucks, writes Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times.
- Suns GM Ryan McDonough issued a statement about the team's trade agreement with Milwaukee, saying that the deal was about creating more cap space (Paul Coro of AZCentral.com).
- Yannis Koutroupis of Hoopsworld profiles this year's rookie head coaches and identifies some challenges that may lie ahead for each of them.
- Later in the same piece, Koutroupis wonders if Marcin Gortat is the next player in Phoenix to be on the move.
- The newly created Delaware 87ers of the NBDL acquired the rights of 16 players via the D-League's expansion draft last night (NBA.com). Among the more notable names on that list with NBA experience are Ish Smith, Sean Williams, Willie Warren, Jerome Dyson, and Josh Akognon. Smith and Akognon remain on NBA rosters, but if they were released and wanted to play in the D-League, Delaware would hold their rights.