Western Notes: Howard, Grizzlies, Roy, Kings
As we look forward to an evening schedule that includes a Lakers/Timberwolves contest in Minnesota, Dwight Howard, who will miss tonight's game, is heading back to Los Angeles to undergo a platelet rich plasma procedure, the Lakers announced today in a press release. Here's the latest from around the Western Conference on D12 and a number of other topics:
- Ken Berger of CBSSports.com spoke to both Howard and Kobe Bryant about the All-Star center's impending free agency and future in Los Angeles.
- ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton (Insider link) thinks it's worth keeping an eye on J.J. Redick as a potential Grizzlies target, since his salary would fit in the team's new $7.49MM trade exception. However, Pelton notes that a swap would likely have to include Ed Davis, and it's not clear whether Memphis would flip Davis or if the team views him as Zach Randolph's eventual replacement.
- Grizzlies owner Robert Pera believes the team's two recent trades have made Memphis a "far more dangerous playoff team," as Kyle Veazey of the Memphis Commercial Appeal documents.
- Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins wasn't quite as bullish on the club's latest moves, as he weighed in on the Rudy Gay trade after last night's game: "When you have champagne taste, you can't be on a beer budget," Hollins said, according to John Rohde of the Oklahoman. "It's a small market and I understand the economics of being in a small market."
- In speaking to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, Brandon Roy suggested that coaching may be in his future if he has to end his playing career prematurely again. Dwight Jaynes of CSNNW.com cautions Roy that the development process of a coach involves a lot of drudgery, and wonders if Roy is the sort of "special, driven person" that could succeed as an NBA coach.
- Potential Kings bidder Ron Burkle is part of a group that's in the running to buy Anschutz Entertainment Group, according to Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee. However, the bid for AEG shouldn't affect his ability to make an offer for the Kings.
Kings/Seattle Updates: Thursday
We're likely a ways off from any sort of resolution on the future of the Kings franchise, but in the meantime, each day seems to bring some sort of development on the sale of the team. Here's Thursday's latest:
- Attorney Donald Fitzgerald and trustee David Flemmer, who is handling the sale of Bob Cook's 7% share of the Kings, are negotiating with the Maloofs in the hopes of gaining access to the details of the Seattle sale, according to Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee. Fitzgerald and Flemmer believe minority owners should have the first right of refusal to match the Seattle offer, and say they need the Seattle documents to pursue their claim.
- If Fitzgerald and Flemmer are successful in their claim, one of the existing limited partners or whoever buys Cook's 7% share could have the opportunity to block the sale to the Seattle group, says Kasler.
- According to Kasler, the NBA expects to make a ruling on the Seattle purchase during the NBA's Board of Governors meeting in mid-April. Cook's share of the team is supposed to be auctioned off on the same day.
- Sacramento's City Hall has launched a feasibility analysis of Downtown Plaza as a spot for a new arena, according to Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee. Ron Burkle, who is reportedly putting together a counter-proposal for the Kings, has advocated directly to NBA commissioner David Stern for building an arena at Sacramento's Downtown Plaza.
Odds & Ends: Warriors, Splitter, Kings, Cousins
Two-time MVP Steve Nash made his first trip back to the city where he enjoyed his greatest success, but his Phoenix return has been overshadowed by the first major trade of the year. It's been quite a busy evening, with Rudy Gay heading to the Raptors, retirement talk surrounding Kevin Garnett, and another weapon in the quiver for the Lakers. Here's even more from the Association:
- Even with Andrew Bogut back, the Warriors still want to upgrade their front line and would love to trade for Timofey Mozgov or DeJuan Blair, Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group reports. Still, chances of a move are "remote," a source tells Thompson.
- Barring an unreasonable offer from another team, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News believes the Spurs intend to re-sign Tiago Splitter, who'll be a restricted free agent this summer (Twitter link).
- In the tug-of-war between Sacramento and Seattle for the Kings, Jason Thompson says the California capital has the players on its side, notes Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com.
- Though he was one of the more prominent trade candidates earlier this season, DeMarcus Cousins claims he's unaware of his name having come up in trade talk, as Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe observes, passing along some revealing comments from the mercurial Kings center. "I'm a loyal guy," he said. "I'm a family-orientated guy. But not so much in this league. You've kind of got to look out for yourself most of the time and always do what's best for you."
- The Mavs could have been involved in today's three-team deal, but reportedly refused to part with Vince Carter, and that was the right move, opines Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com.
- No team has more former lottery picks under the age of 25 than the Jazz, and that has them set up for a bright future, writes Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News.
Kings/Seattle Rumors: Wednesday
As we wait for the NBA to review Seattle's bid for the Kings, Sacramento continues to move closer to preparing a bid of their own to try to keep the team. Here's the latest on Sacramento, Seattle, and the Kings, with any new updates added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- While the conventional wisdom suggests that Seattle has the inside track on the Kings, the league is "clearly signaling" that it wants a counter-proposal from the Kings, a source tells Tony Bizjak, Ryan Lillis, and Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee. "Sacramento has a real fighting chance," the source said. "[The NBA] knows how the community has responded to the team. If a deep-pocketed group buys, if the Maloofs get the same amount of money, and an arena set up, it will be difficult for the board of governors to just dismiss that."
- Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson is expected to make a public pitch to the NBA Board of Governors in April, but the league figures to privately vet the Ron Burkle/Mark Mastrov group before that point, according to the Bee report. The Burkle/Mastrov group will have to submit their proposal directly to the league's finance committe, as opposed to the Maloofs.
- The Bee report also notes that the NBA's relocation committee will be tasked with evaluating "the support of the [Kings] in the existing location by fans, telecasters, broadcasters and sponsors," which Tom Ziller of Sactown Royalty views as a positive sign for Sacramento.
Kings/Seattle Rumors: Tuesday
We'll keep any of today's Kings/Seattle-related updates below:
- Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com says that even if Sacramento's legal challenges buy more time, he isn't sure it necessarily means an eventual victory against the move to Seattle (Sulia link). He also mentions that although the league would prefer to have the situation resolved by the Board of Governors meeting on April 18-19, it would be willing to carry on discussions into the summer, even if it meant having to prepare individual season schedules for Sacramento and Seattle.
- Mark Mastrov made a strong impression on local investors yesterday after explaining his vision of building a new arena and keeping the Kings in Sacramento, wrote Ryan Lillis, Dale Kasler, and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee. Mayor Kevin Johnson described the meeting as a “positive step forward in our effort to keep the Kings,” while others who attended added that Mastrov has brought added confidence, optimism, and hope to the table.
- Kasler also reports that a bankruptcy trustee who controls seven percent of the Kings will bring in “special litigation counsel” to help make the claim that the team's minority owners are illegally being denied the right to match the purchase offer from Chris Hansen and the Seattle group. While the Maloofs and Hansen view this claim as a non-issue, University of New Hampshire sports law expert Michael McCann thinks that litigation may interfere with the Seattle group’s plan to have the sale approved by mid-April and could possibly delay the franchise from moving for another year at the least.
Kings/Seattle Rumors: Monday
With the Kings in D.C. tonight to play the middling Wizards, the future of their franchise is still uncertain. As the news and rumors continue to pour in, let's keep all the Monday updates in this post with the latest up top:
- Mastrov bid $420MM to buy the Warriors in 2010, tweets Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee. The 20 Sacramento business leaders that Mastrov met with have pledged $1MM apiece in support of the bid to keep the Kings in town, Lillis adds in a separate story.
Earlier updates:
- Ken Berger of CBS Sports provides some helpful information via Twitter. Berger says that prospective Kings buyer Mark Mastrov met today with 20 local investors that are committed to keeping the team in Sacramento. We got confirmation yesterday that Mastrov would be teaming up with Ron Burkle to make a bid on the team.
- A league source described the Mastrov's interaction with the investors as an "informal meeting," Berger tweets, also adding that its purpose was to explain his vision for the team and a new arena in Sacramento.
- Confirming much of what we know, Berger adds that the Seattle-based Hansen-Ballmer group has an "executed purchase agreement" for the Kings that is under consideration with the NBA and assuming its approval, would move to the team to Seattle next year. Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson hopes that the city will have a chance to present an alternative option to the NBA Board of Governors in April (Twitter links here).
West Notes: Kings, Howard, Gay, Blazers
Here are some notes from around the Western Conference on Sunday night:
- The uncertainty surrounding the sale of the Kings comes at an unfortunate time for a front office that has some important decisions to make, writes Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com.
- Dwight Howard is currently operating with the mindset that the Lakers' roster, himself included, will stay intact for the remainder of the season, writes Sam Amick of USA Today. It's clear Howard is waffling once again and if the Lakers don't straighten this season out soon, the Howard situation could escalate. "My mind-set? Nobody's going anywhere," Howard told Amick.
- Stan Van Gundy, talking on an Orlando radio show, said that he had suspicions from the start that Howard may not fit in right away in Los Angeles, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel. Van Gundy says that because Kobe Bryant probably isn't willing to adjust his game, that obligation falls completely on Howard. If they don't win and Howard remains an afterthought in the Lakers offense, Van Gundy says, there isn't much reason to expect Howard to remain in Los Angeles.
- Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien says that despite the constant trade speculation, the team is more than likely not going to make a trade before the February 21 deadline, writes Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Despite Levien's words, Tillery says that the team believes it will start to get better offers for Rudy Gay in light of Tuesday's trade.
- Heading into tonight's home-and-home finale with the Clippers, Blazers' GM Neil Olshey sees some positive parallels between his current and former teams, writes Jason Quick of the Oregonian.
Kings/Seattle Rumors: Sunday
With the future of the Kings in limbo, we'll round up today's rumors in this post, with any additional updates at the top.
- If the Kings leave Sacramento, the city is owed $77MM from loans it floated to the team 15 years ago, but a legal expert tells Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee that the new owners could get off the hook for less.
- The $525MM price tag set in the agreement between the Maloofs and the Chris Hansen/Howard Ballmer Seattle investors represents a 75% jump in the value of the team over the figure that Forbes magazine estimated last year, notes the Bee's Tom Couzens. That's the largest jump in value for any team this year. We passed along the full list of Forbes valuations earlier this week.
- The Bee's Ailene Voisin hears that the Maloofs received a $425MM offer last year, and wonders why they decided now was the time to sell.
- Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game confirms that Mark Mastrov and Ron Burkle are teaming up for a bid (Sulia link). Still, Bucher says it would be hard to imagine the Seattle group would agree to a $30MM refundable payment without assurance from people more powerful than the Maloofs that the sale would go through.
Berger’s Latest: Lakers, Lowry, Gay, Suns, Seattle
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com has a new column in which he examines the Lakers' options at the trading deadline. Berger attributes at least some of Dwight Howard's struggles this season to having only had a limited amount of time playing in the pick-and-roll with Steve Nash, and suggests that standing pat could be an option. He goes into further depth about the Lakers' options as well as some other topics from around the NBA as the deadline approaches.
- The Jazz, Raptors, Hawks, and Timberwolves are among the teams Berger says have interest in trading for Pau Gasol, although none of them have an ideal set of pieces to make a deal with the Lakers.
- Berger doesn't believe the Lakers will trade Howard because they have a lot of leverage to keep him in the form of a bigger contract they can offer him than any competitor.
- Kyle Lowry may be on the trade market, as people within the Raptors organization are not pleased with him. Berger lists the Mavericks and Hawks as two teams that could be interested in trading for him.
- Although talk has cooled in recent weeks, Berger hears from executives around the league that the Grizzlies are still open to trading Rudy Gay, either before the trade deadline or during the summer.
- Suns GM Lance Blanks and president Lon Babby could have their job security depend on Lindsey Hunter's success as interim head coach over the rest of the season.
- A bankruptcy lawyer is claiming that Kings minority owners should be given an opportunity to match the offer the Maloof family accepted to sell the team to the Chris Hansen-led Seattle ownership group.
Kings/Seattle Rumors: Friday
Another day, another round-up of the latest rumblings on Sacramento, Seattle, and the potential sale of the Kings. Here are Friday's updates, with any new items added to the top of the page throughout the evening:
- Ron Burkle, who is reportedly considering partnering with Mark Mastrov to make a bid to keep the Kings in Sacramento, met with David Stern yesterday in New York City, reports Sam Amick of USA Today. According to Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com, Burkle's potential bid for the Kings is "gaining momentum" (Twitter link).
- Meanwhile, another potential "whale" is being courted to make a bid for the franchise. Tony Bizjak, Dale Kasler, and Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee report that minority owner Bob Cook has asked a Bay Area sport attorney to broker a meeting between potential investor Larry Ellison and Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson. Ellison, who was involved in bidding on the Warriors in 2010, is considered the third-richest man in America.
- The trio of Bee reporters and Chris Daniels of KING TV in Seattle (Twitter link) are hearing that the minority owners' "right of first refusal" we heard about yesterday is considered a "non-issue" by the Maloofs and the Seattle group.
- Sacramento radio host Carmichael Dave tweets that if Cook and Ellison were to partner up, the idea would be to pursue the Maloofs' stake in the team first, then work with the other minority owners.