Monta Ellis Interested In Kings?
The Kings' hiring of Michael Malone as their new head coach should improve the team's chances of landing Monta Ellis in free agency this summer, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. According to Spears, Ellis gained a great deal of respect for the former Warriors assistant while both Ellis and Malone were in Golden State.
The link between Ellis and the Kings stems from a report earlier this month that indicated Sacramento's new ownership group liked Ellis. Of course, like Malone, new owner Vivek Ranadive also has a history with Ellis' old team in Golden State. Still, in a second report, a source from Ranadive's group downplayed the team's interest in Ellis, so it's not clear if the Kings will actually pursue the free agent guard this summer.
Ellis has an $11MM player option that he still could exercise if he chooses, but every indication is that he'll opt out in search of a larger payday. Assuming he does, he'll be one of three Bucks guards expected to land a big multiyear deal in free agency, with one recent report suggesting that Milwaukee may prefer to keep Ellis and J.J. Redick over Brandon Jennings.
Odds & Ends: Wizards, Orton, 76ers
Here's more of tonight's miscellaneous links:
- J. Michael of CSN Washington hears that despite the Wizards owning three draft picks next month, the team doesn't want to add three rookies and will try to at least deal one pick (or possibly both second rounders) in a package to land a veteran player.
- As much as Thunder big man Daniel Orton enjoys being on a championship contender, he tells John Rohde of NewsOK that he's open to a change of scenery if it provides an opportunity for more playing time. Orton has two more non-guaranteed years with Oklahoma City.
- Michael Kaskey-Blomain of Philly.com wonders why 76ers GM Sam Hinkie hasn't hired a coach yet, making the argument that it will be counterproductive if they wait to name a coach after significant roster decisions – such as selecting a player in the draft – have been made.
- Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio took to Twitter to have a brief chat with readers, noting that there "absolutely" is interest in Rockets forward Thomas Robinson, the Cavaliers might be able to consider Danny Granger a real possibility as a trade target, Byron Scott looks to be the leading candidate for the Clippers head coaching job, and that the Celtics may go after Josh Smith if Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are done in Boston (All Twitter links here). Interestingly, Amico also tweets that Beantown could be in play for Andrew Bynum if they decide to gut the roster.
- Though he had originally been disappointed that he didn't land with the Knicks on draft night four years ago, Warriors star Stephen Curry now happily has the keys to the city in Golden State and wouldn't have it any other way (Will Leitch of Sports On Earth).
- Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles points out that not only was Michael Malone the only coaching candidate being considered by Vivek Ranadive, but notes that Jerry West – currently a consultant for the Warriors – has been counseling Ranadive throughout the hiring process.
- Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside notes that D-League guard Tony Taylor Jr. has an opportunity-laced summer to catch the attention of NBA executives, as the young guard will participate in a free agent camp for the Magic before joining the Thunder and Heat at separate times on their respective summer league teams.
- Tim Cowlishaw of SportsDayDFW thinks that Chris Paul makes much more sense for the Mavericks than Dwight Howard.
Cousins A “Goner” In Sacramento?
10:26PM: Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee tweets that the new ownership has no intention of trading Cousins, also mentioning that the center is supposed to meet with Ranadive soon.
10:16PM: On the cusp of Michael Malone's agreement with the Kings, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio tweets that a source in tune with Sacramento's head coaching decision suggests that the move was made with the presumption that DeMarcus Cousins "is a goner." In an earlier piece by Sam Amick of USA Today, it was noted that former Kings head coach Keith Smart had forged a close relationship with the young center during his first season in Sacramento. Amico (via Twitter) isn't quite sure he completely believes his source and thinks the Kings will give things a chance to work, though one may wonder if the 6'11 center's future in Sacramento could be tied to how well he gets along with Malone.
Despite admitting to some growing pains during the second season, Smart spoke candidly about how he envisioned playing a role in Cousins' development, saying that a third year could have been a prime opportunity to make things work even better:
"We put a lot of pressure on a 22-year-old to carry the franchise right now, and he's probably not there yet…But that's why I just thought all the work that you had to go through to get to a certain point and understanding how to manage a player, now you go into that third year, that next stage and (you're in a good place)."
"I understand him and he understands me now. And that's where you grow…You get a chance to develop that relationship. You had to push, you had to fight, you had to argue. But you come back, and you're able to trust each other."
With Malone now leading the bench, it will be interesting to see if or how long team brass will give him a chance to work with Cousins. The picture could be much clearer on this front once a general manager is put in place, though the speculation about how their relationship could develop is intriguing nonetheless.
Pacific Rumors: Clippers, Scott, Kings, Buford
Here are a few items of note from out of the Pacific Division on a Thursday afternoon:
- The Clippers have gotten in touch with at least one of the coaching candidates presumed to be on their list of targets. ESPN.com's Chris Broussard reports that the team has contacted Byron Scott, and while no formal interview has been scheduled yet, Scott is interested in the job.
- Scott is currently the leading vote-getter in our poll from earlier this afternoon asking who will be the Clippers' next head coach. The former Cavs coach is barely edging out Pacers assistant Brian Shaw for now.
- With Vivek Ranadive assuming control of the Kings, he'll need to divest himself of his stake in the Warriors, as Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News notes. Kawakami has heard estimates that Ranadive's share of the Warriors was about 10% (Twitter links).
- Speaking of Ranadive's Kings, a report earlier this week had suggested the new ownership group in Sacramento would be targeting R.C. Buford as the Kings' head of basketball operations. However, the Spurs GM said today that he's exactly where he wants to be in San Antonio, and that he's not going anywhere, as Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News writes.
Western Notes: Hollins, Jackson, Kings
A look at a few notes from around the NBA's Western Conference.
- Darnell Mayberry of NewsOk.com grades second year point guard Reggie Jackson. It was his inspired play during the season that allowed the Thunder to trade Eric Maynor at the deadline, and further their already fortunate roster flexibility.
- In an interview with Andre Johnson of MemphiSport.com, Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins discusses his future as a head coach, and how various rumors during the Grizzlies' playoff run had no impact on their play.
- Alex Kramers of TheKingsBlog.com takes a look at the Kings' second round picks from the past and details how the team might use its 36th overall pick in this year's draft.
Odds & Ends: Summer League, Kings, Devin Harris
The NBA announced today that 22 teams will participate in the Association's Summer League in Las Vegas in July. Since one of those 22 is a D-League select team, there are nine NBA clubs who won't be in Vegas: the Celtics, Nets, Pistons, Rockets, Pacers, Thunder, Magic, 76ers, and Jazz. While Summer League results often aren't an indicator of regular-season success (Josh Selby was the co-MVP in Vegas a year ago), this year's format should at least be entertaining, as it will feature an NCAA-style single-elimination tournament for the first time.
Here are a few more Wednesday odds and ends from around the NBA:
- After reporting earlier today that the Kings would be interviewing Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace, Sam Amick of USA Today now says that interview has taken place.
- Free agent guard Devin Harris tells Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times that he'd be very much open to listening if the Bucks call him this summer. "Who wouldn’t want to play for their hometown team?" said Harris, a Milwaukee native. "I know they got a lot of decisions to make, but I know I would be interested in them. If it’s going to work out, who knows?"
- The Bucks will resume their draft workouts on Friday, with Shane Larkin and Tim Hardaway Jr. among a group of six players auditioning, tweets Woelfel.
- Numerous free-agents-to-be have said throughout the season that they intend to consider the Hawks this summer, says Lang Greene of HoopsWorld.
Draft Rumors: Cavs, Cousins, Magic, Bledsoe
After updating his big board yesterday, ESPN.com's Chad Ford returns today with a handful of the latest draft-related rumblings he's been hearing (Insider-only link). With less than a month until draft day, let's round up the highlights from Ford's piece….
- Nerlens Noel remains atop the Cavaliers' draft board, making him the favorite to be drafted first overall, but Ford notes that Noel's ACL injury and the Cavs' desire to make the playoffs next season mean the Kentucky center is far from a lock at No. 1. If Cleveland can acquire a young small forward or big man using the top pick as trade bait, owner Dan Gilbert may push for a deal.
- One name you shouldn't totally rule out when considering Cleveland's possible trade scenarios, according to Ford? DeMarcus Cousins. Ford reports that the Cavs, Bobcats, and the Mavericks are among the clubs who could call the Kings about Cousins in the hopes of trading draft picks and/or other assets for the young big man.
- The Magic have Arron Afflalo at the two guard and a more glaring need at the point, but aren't sold on Trey Burke, according to Ford, who says the team is eyeing Ben McLemore and Victor Oladipo at No. 2. If the Magic were to draft a two guard, they'd be interested in trying to trade Afflalo to the Clippers for Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler's expiring contract, says Ford. It's not clear whether such a deal would interest the Clips.
- Arizona State's Carrick Felix, USC's Dewayne Dedmon and Will Clyburn of Iowa State were among the standouts at this week's draft workouts in Minnesota, NBA GMs and scouts told Ford. On the other end of the spectrum, French big man Mouhammadou Jaiteh struggled and now projects as a late second-round pick.
- In a separate piece for ESPN Insider, Bradford Doolittle examines a few hypothetical trade scenarios involving draft picks.
Coaching Rumors: Pistons, Hollins, Kings, 76ers
A handful of the NBA's head coaching vacancies have been filled this week, with the Suns, Bobcats, and Hawks all deciding on new head coaches. Still, plenty of jobs remain open, including higher-profile positions in Los Angeles and Brooklyn. Let's round up the latest rumblings on the Association's coaching carousel….
- Sam Amick of USA Today follows up on his earlier report (linked below), tweeting that the reason the Kings may move quickly to hire Malone is a fear he'll be gone if they wait. Malone is expected to interview with the Clippers soon, according to Amick (via Twitter). Amick adds that the Kings have yet to contact Chris Mullin about the team's GM position.
Earlier updates:
- The Pistons have interviewed Bulls assistant Adrian Griffin for their head coaching opening, reports CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes. While Nate McMillan and Maurice Cheeks are viewed as the favorites in Detroit, Griffin's extensive phone interview with GM Joe Dumars was "impressive," a source tells Haynes. The Bulls assistant also interviewed for the Suns job before Phoenix hired Jeff Hornacek.
- Although the Nets are among the teams hoping to speak to Lionel Hollins, the Grizzlies coach told reporters, including Tim Bontemps of the New York Post, that he's not sure Memphis will grant rival suitors permission to talk to him before his contract expires on June 30th.
- Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group backs up Peter Vecsey's report that Michael Malone appears likely to be hired as the Kings' next head coach. Sam Amick of USA Today is hearing the same thing, noting that the team could bring Malone aboard before hiring a general manager, which would be an unorthodox approach.
- Amick also passes along an update on the Kings' search for a new head of basketball operations, reporting that the team has interviewed Warriors assistant GM Travis Schlenk and will likely interview Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace later this week. The Thunder denied Sacramento permission to speak to OKC's assistant GM Troy Weaver, while Spurs GM R.C. Buford isn't expected to have interest in the Kings job, according to Amick.
- The 76ers continue to move slowly in their coaching search, and have yet to formally interview a candidate for the job, says John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pacific Notes: Kings, Mullin, Hornacek, Jackson
Here's the latest out of the Pacific Division..
- Chris Mullin is in the mix to become the next General Manager of the Kings, according to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). If he pursues the job, Mullin will vie with Spurs President R.C. Buford, Warriors assistant GM Travis Schlenk, and Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace, who are said to be on Vivek Ranadive's wish list for the vacant position.
- Jeff Hornacek's experience in working with young players should put him in a good position to succeed with the Suns, writes Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune. The former NBA guard has been considered in the last year by the Magic, 76ers, and Bobcats but finally found the right fit with Phoenix this week.
- Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter) hears the Warriors have not begun talks with coach Mark Jackson, though something is expected to get done to avoid lame duck status next year. In Thompson's opinion (link), the Warriors can't do any better than Jackson and the coach's agent should angle for a multi-year extension. After Mike D'Antoni got a three-year, $12MM deal from the Lakers, Thompson (link) believes that Jackson is worth at least that much.
Chris Hansen On Kings, Seattle, Next Step
Chris Hansen may not have been the big money behind the bid purchase the Kings and move them to Seattle, but he was unquestionably the face of the movement. Hansen has been largely silent since his group was shot down by the NBA Board of Governors but earlier today he gave a lengthy interview to Dave Mahler of KJR Radio. We've got all the highlights courtesy of NBCSports.com's Aaron Bruski with all links going to Twitter..
- While there has been speculation about other clubs that Hansen's group could zero in on, he says that they won't be going after another city's team as a "predator" again. "If we'd known that there would have been such strong support to keep the team in SAC, we'd have approached it differently," said Hansen (link). That would seem to imply that the Sonics will wait for an expansion opportunity to come their way, but that may not be anytime soon. Seattle could also wait for a club to already get the OK to move before pursuing them.
- Hansen didn't expect this level of backlash when it came to the Kings, saying that there was a belief inside and outside of the NBA that they were going to move (link). Before agreeing to purchase a team next time around, Hansen's group will make sure that they have gained pre-approval to move (link).
- David Stern isn't the most popular guy in the Seattle area, but Hansen doesn't believe that the commissioner has anything against the city (link).
- The investor says that he has never sued anybody and doesn't plan to start with the NBA.
- However, the group would like to recoup the non-refundable $30MM deposit that they gave to the Maloofs. But, again, they won't be suing. (Twitter links).
- When the NBA negotiates its next TV contract, Hansen believes that the league will be reminded of how valuable Seattle really is.