Pacific Notes: Paul, Clippers, Kings, Jackson
Chris Paul has kept mum on his future so far, but he may have dropped some very telling hints when speaking to reporters this afternoon. The Clippers star remarked that guard Eric Bledsoe is likely going to wind up elsewhere next year because the club won't have enough money to sign him, tweets Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com. The way that Paul spoke of Bledsoe's future leads Markazi to believe (link) that Paul intends on staying in L.A. for the long-term. It's also worth noting that Bledsoe isn't a free agent this summer – he's under contract next season for $2.6MM. However, the Clippers are expected to shop him when/if Paul re-signs (link). Here's more out of the Pacific..
- An NBA owner expressed his doubts to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com about Sacramento's bid for the Kings, saying, "The check's in the mail, and that's not good enough. The check's got to arrive." Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson nonetheless believes most owners were "blown away" by the competitiveness of the city's offer, as well as the fast pace at which its come together.
- Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News (on Twitter) notes that the three-year, $28MM extension that Stephen Jackson signed with the Warriors is just expiring now after four trades and one release.
- Ike Diogu began the season in training camp with the Suns and played 41 games with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China. Now, he's headed to Puerto Rico to play with Leones de Ponce, Sportando's Emiliano Carchia reports.
Odds & Ends: LeBron, Kings, Draft, Wiggins
Here's today's look around the Association as we get set for the 2013 playoffs to get underway, starting with the Knicks and Celtics at 2pm central..
- If the Cavs really want to make a run at bringing LeBron James back to Cleveland in the 2014 offseason, it will be interesting to see how they replace coach Byron Scott, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. If John Calipari somehow winds up as the Cavaliers' choice, then it might be time to at least consider how deep the James-Calipari connections run.
- Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times is displeased with how commissioner David Stern has handled the Seattle-Sacramento battle over the Kings. Brewer opines that it's frustrating to see Stern continue to defend the Sacramento offer while inferring that it does not fully match the Chris Hansen deal.
- The latest mock draft from HoopsWorld still has Nerlens Noel going No. 1 but has some changes elsewhere in the lottery. Victor Oladipo is at No. 3 in the latest mock while Georgetown's Otto Porter is projected to go No. 6.
- Despite rumblings to the contrary, Canadian high school standout Andrew Wiggins says that he won't be announcing his college choice anytime soon, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet. Wiggins is universally projected to be the top pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Sacramento/Seattle Updates: Friday
NBA commissioner David Stern spoke to the media today from the league's Board of Governors meetings, briefing reporters on the latest updates in the Kings saga. According to Stern, the NBA's subcommittees discussing the Kings sale will likely vote on their recommendation sometime late next week. That recommendation will then be taken to all 30 owners, who will vote a week or two after that (Twitter link via ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst). Resolution is expected to come before May 21st's draft lottery, says Stern (Twitter link via Ken Berger of CBSSports.com). Here's more on Sacramento, Seattle, and the Kings:
- Several ownership sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com that they have serious questions about the Sacramento group's financing to purchase the team and build a new arena. Windhorst also passes along details of the Maloofs' letter to the NBA.
- Stern downplayed the idea that whichever city demonstrates it can build its arena more quickly will be a key factor in the league's debate, Windhorst notes.
Earlier updates:
- Expansion hasn't been discussed in this instance, though Stern didn't rule out the possibility down the road, tweets Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
- Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, who is on the NBA's relocation and finance committees, told Chris Daniels of KING TV that they have asked the Seattle and Sacramento groups for more information. There's no one big issue that needs to be addressed, but rather a "bunch of little things," according to Taylor, who recognizes the need to move the process along (all Twitter links).
- Daniels also confirms (via Twitter) that the Maloofs have sent the NBA a letter asking the league to approve its sale agreement to the Seattle group. According to Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter links), the Maloofs believe the Sacramento offer carries "unacceptable risk" and noted that it doesn't match Seattle's bid, though Stern suggested it's in the same ballpark "with regard to the net result" to the Maloofs (Twitter link via NBA.com's Scott-Howard Cooper).
- Stern confirmed today that the league is treating the Sacramento bid as submitted, even though it hasn't been signed by the Maloofs, tweets TNT's David Aldridge.
- One owner told Berger that the Seattle/Sacramento debate could still go either way, saying it was "50-50" at the moment (Twitter link). According to Stern and Silver, the NBA isn't trying to influence the owners to vote either way (Twitter links via Windhorst and Zillgitt).
Latest On Kings, Sacramento, Seattle
While the NBA Board of Governors met to discuss the future of the Kings, George Maloof told reporters that he's fine with the way the league has decided to handle deliberations as well as the process for both cities (tweets Nick Monacelli of News 10 Sacramento). It appears that today's meeting is over, but we'll keep track of more updates/Twitter links we've gathered up tonight involving the Seattle/Sacramento situation:
- Bryan May of News 10 Sacramento hears from George Maloof that he expects a final vote to be taken during the first week of May. Maloof would neither confirm nor deny if the proposed Sacramento offer was equal to Seattle's.
- According to Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee, sources close to the Maloof family say that the current Kings owners still keep their binding agreement with the Seattle group in mind and would prefer that the league decides to approve it.
- Lillis also says that Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson flew to New York last night after the Kings game in order to be ready if needed (Twitter links).
Odds & Ends: Wilcox, Kings, Pistons, McGrady
So far, Hoops Rumors readers have indicated in this morning's poll that Spurs/Lakers is the most-anticipated first round series of the NBA playoffs, with Celtics/Knicks and Thunder/Rockets rounding out the top three. We'll have to wait until Sunday for those two Western series to get underway, but Boston and New York will be the first two teams to begin their series on Saturday afternoon. As we look forward to what should be an exciting postseason, let's check in on a few odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Washington junior C.J. Wilcox has decided to return to school for his senior season, tweets Percy Allen of the Seattle Times. Wilcox was ranked 37th among this year's prospects by ESPN.com's Chad Ford.
- Michael McCann of SI.com (Twitter link) hears that, as commissioner David Stern has indicated publicly, expansion to 31 teams truly hasn't been discussed as an option by the NBA. As such, there will be no happy ending to the Kings saga for both Sacramento and Seattle basketball fans.
- With Lawrence Frank out as Pistons coach, GM Joe Dumars will be running the team's search for a new coach, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Vince Goodwill of the Detroit News has heard Nate McMillan, Kelvin Sampson, Jerry Sloan, and Heat assistant David Fizdale mentioned as potential candidates (Twitter link).
- Sixers assistant Michael Curry will interview for Philadelphia's head coaching position while keeping an eye on other openings, reports Shams Charania of RealGM.com. In Doug Collins' exit interview today, he recommended Curry as his replacement.
- Tracy McGrady is a Spur at the moment, but his 2012/13 Chinese team, the Qingdao Double Star Eagles would like to re-sign him for next season, according to a Hupu.com report (English link via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando).
- Carchia also passes along word that Latvian forward Janis Timma has decided to enter the 2013 NBA draft, according to his agent. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com ranks Timma 27th among 1992-born international prospects.
Blazers Owner On Olshey, Stotts, Tax, Kings
Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen met with reporters this evening before the team's final game, expressing his disappointment about the Blazers' failure to make the playoffs as well as his belief that the team is nonetheless headed in a positive direction. Allen had plenty more to say, and Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge provides a full transcript. We'll pass along a few highlights here:
On GM Neil Olshey and coach Terry Stotts, both in their first year with the team:
I think they are both doing a very good job. Obviously the end of the season, injuries can really get you. Wes (Matthews), Nic (Batum) and (LaMarcus Aldridge) having some issues. That can always — especially when you don' t have as much depth as you would like. I think you saw Terry institute that new brand of basketball to start out the season and I think compared to styles we've had in previous seasons, I think it's refreshing, unselfish style. In terms of what Neil did, we did very well in the draft, there's no question about that. I think getting Eric Maynor at the trade deadline that was a nice move. We're positioning ourselves for the future with cap room, draft picks, flexibility. It's going to be a very interesting offseason.
On his approach to the luxury tax:
Well, I'm not going to be a repeat offender with the multiplicative tax. That's something we'll try to stay, we'll be moderate, we're not going to be like the big-market teams that are paying the tax when they're in a championship window. People should understand, big markets have a huge local cable deal and can afford it when you're in a championship window, otherwise those taxes are so punitive they'll have their desired effect.
On the fight over the Kings between Sacramento and Seattle:
I think the league announced that there wasn't going to be a decision at this owners meeting. If there was, I'd be back in New York talking to people, forming my opinion. I think it's a tough call. While I supported the Sonics staying in Seattle when they ended up leaving, I think in general there's some feeling that if there's good fan support and there's good political support sufficient to have a state of the art facility, that's more than enough reason to keep a franchise in the same place. Then you can get into all the parameters of who has made the best offer, who hasn't made the best offer. It's a very difficult thing. Steve Ballmer is a very good friend of mine and I think he would be a great owner. I reserve my final decision.
Pacific Links: Dwight, Lakers, Warriors, Kings
Congratulations to the Lakers, who, after a season of nearly non-stop turmoil, have clinched a playoff spot with the Grizzlies' win over the Jazz tonight. That comes as no surprise to many Hoops Rumors readers, as the Lakers were the top choice when we asked two weeks ago which Western Conference team would grab the final playoff spot in the West. You were also right on about the Jazz, tabbing them in early March as the team most likely to miss the playoffs among a group that also included the Lakers, Warriors and Rockets. Now, as the Lakers attempt to move up to the seventh seed with a win over Houston tonight, here's more on them and a couple of their Pacific Division rivals.
- Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told Jim Rome of CBS Radio that he expects to re-sign Dwight Howard, echoing a pair of sources who said the same to Sam Amick of USA Today a few days ago.
- Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld concludes the Lakers can't win a title as constituted this year or next, and lays out three options for the team: a full rebuilding effort, a quick rebuild for next season, and the most likely option, a push for free agents in 2014. Regardless of what happens, re-signing Howard figures to be the first item on their offseason agenda, as Koutroupis writes.
- Dwayne Jones will be with Golden State when the playoffs begin this weekend, but Scott Machado will remain with the Warriors' D-League affiliate for its postseason run, tweets Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Warriors signed deals with both today for the rest of the season.
- Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com figures the NBA's decision to delay a vote until next month on the future of the Kings is a positive for Sacramento, arguing the city will benefit from more time in its tug-of-war with Seattle (Twitter link).
Poll: Which City Deserves The Kings?
The NBA's Board of Governors is meeting this week to debate the future of the Kings, and though no decision is expected until next month, there's a lot riding on the next couple of days, as the league's owners will debate competing bids from Seattle and Sacramento. It doesn't appear that Sacramento's offer is quite as high as Seattle's, after Chris Hansen and company upped the ante by $25MM last week, though that may not be nearly as important as the speed with which each city can construct a new arena.
Hansen's investment group reached an agreement to buy the controlling share of the Kings from the Maloof family in January, so they can argue they were on the sale first. Sacramento can point to the fact that the team's been there since the 1985/86 season, as well as the city's repeated efforts to strike a deal with the Maloofs in the past.
Pundits on both sides of the issue have had their say over the past several months. Now, it's your turn. If you, instead of the NBA's finance and relocation committees, were making a recommendation to the Board of Governors, what would you tell them? Let us know by voting, and feel free to elaborate on your take in the comments.
Which City Deserves The Kings?
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Seattle 63% (449)
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Sacramento 37% (262)
Total votes: 711
Latest On Kings, Sacramento, Seattle
6:15pm: The earliest a decision will be made would be the first week in May, Stern told reporters, including Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. The joint committees reviewing the bids will likely convene again next week after the Board of Governors meeting this weekend. Next week's meeting is likely when the committee recommendation will be made (All Twitter links).
6:00pm: Despite commissioner David Stern's insistence that the league will not expand, that issue isn't off the table, says NBA Board of Governors chairman Peter Holt. The Spurs owner adds that there's been no down payment made by the Sacramento group, presumably referring to the $30MM non-refundable payment Seattle's group made to the Maloofs. Chris Daniels of KING-TV in Seattle tweets the news.
4:15pm: A source close to the situation tells Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee that Sacramento's bid for the Kings is a "non-binding term sheet." The source tells the Bee that the bid would require the Maloofs to terminate its agreement with the Seattle group before the NBA's Board of Governors vote on it, at which point the Sacramento group would negotiate a final, binding offer for the franchise.
Predictably, the Maloof family doesn't sound entirely on board with that idea. The Bee reports that the Maloofs, in a letter to the NBA, expressed a desire to move forward with the Seattle agreement.
3:07pm: This week's NBA's ownership meetings have begun, which means discussions that will determine the fate of the Kings are underway. In advance of the meetings, the Vivek Ranadive-led group seeking to buy the team and keep it in Sacramento submitted its official bid to purchase the team, according to Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee.
The Sacramento bid, along with the offer made by Chris Hansen's Seattle group, will be reviewed today by a handful of NBA owners that are members of the league's relocation and finance committees. The 12-owner committee will eventually forward a recommendation to the league's full Board of Governors, which includes all 30 team owners. As Ken Berger of CBSSports.com explains, the Board of Governors will meet tomorrow and Friday, although no formal vote is expected this week (Twitter links).
Here are a few more of today's notes and links related to Seattle, Sacramento, and the Kings:
- Lillis notes in his report that the amount of Sacramento's bid was not revealed. Based on yesterday's reports, it sounds as if it may not match Seattle's increased offer dollar for dollar.
- According to Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (Sulia link), one reason the vote is being delayed is because the committee will need more team to evaluate which group will have the ability to build a new arena more quickly. Other factors are being vetted as well, but the arena issue could be a big one, says Bucher.
- Hansen has completed deals to purchase all the land required for Seattle's proposed arena, according to Chris Daniels of KING-TV.
- Ken Benson of the New York Times explains how Ranadive's influence in India could be a boon for the NBA if Sacramento keeps the Kings.
Pacific Notes: Bryant, Amnesty, Cousins
With three NBA games scheduled, the Clippers are the only Pacific division team in action tonight. Let's round up links from the division here:
- Just because the Lakers aren't thinking about amnestying Kobe Bryant just yet, doesn't mean everyone else isn't. An ESPN Los Angeles poll shows that most do not think the Lakers should use the amnesty provision on their longtime star. Amin Elhassan of ESPN is in favor of cutting ties with Bryant, writing that the team could conceivably re-sign him if he can return to full strength. On the other hand, Arash Markazi sees Bryant helping the Lakers next season and thinks the franchise's image would take a hit should they release him.
- Markazi follows up on Twitter, clarifying that the Lakers can only use their amnesty provision on Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Blake or Metta World Peace, adding that he believes the team will use it on either Blake or World Peace. Markazi also tweets that for a player to be eligible for the amnesty provision, he must have been with the team that amnesties him since July 1st, 2011, as Luke Adams noted in his amnesty refresher this afternoon.
- In an all-access interview with Bleacher Report's Jimmy Spencer, Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins insists that he is not interested in a change of scenery. "No, I am loyal to this organization," Cousins said. "The biggest reward to me would be, at the end of the day, hearing them say, 'He turned this around. He stuck with it through thick and thin and he made it happen.'" While the story comes with a disclaimer that Cousins granted the interview with an agenda in mind, there are plenty of worthwhile quotes that make it worth a read.