Odds & Ends: Trail Blazers, Nets, Carter, Brooks
In a radio interview earlier today, Trail Blazers acting GM Chad Buchanan says his team has a "financial ceiling" in mind for restricted free agent Nicolas Batum, according to BlazersEdge.com's Ben Golliver. Portland will also be targeting "mid-tier" free agent big men this offseason.
- In a tweet, the Daily News' Stefan Bondy says Nets GM Billy King announced that Adam Morrison and Al Thornton will be working out at a free agent camp at the team's facility this month.
- The Toronto Sun's Frank Zicarelli believes it's unlikely the Mavericks will exercise the $3.1MM team option on Vince Carter's contract next season, making the guard a free agent.
- Michigan State senior forward Draymond Green says he's been told he'll be selected in the first round of this year's draft, according to Larry Lage from the Associated Press. Green has a workout scheduled with the Celtics
- With James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook all invited to participate in Team USA's training camp this July, The Oklahoman's John Rohde suggests the team take on Thunder head coach Scott Brooks as either a member of the coaching staff or a helpful observer. With three of his players all expected to compete for spots this year and in 2016, it makes sense to have Brooks on board.
- Tommy Dee from Sheridan Hoops gives us five underclassmen who've officially entered the NBA draft that could surprise some people as early as next season if they're selected late.
- In a story from today's Sacramento Bee by Tony Bizjak, it was revealed that the city of Sacramento spent $680K since September in its failed effort to build a downtown sports and entertainment arena.
- On OregonLive.com, several Trail Blazer scribes weigh in on what the team should do with J.J. Hickson.
- In an attempt to alleviate some pain caused by the patellar tendinitis he suffered through all of last season, Bucks forward Luc Mbah a Moute underwent knee surgery on Friday, according to JSOnline.com's Charles F. Gardner. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp in October.
Offseason Outlook: Sacramento Kings
Guaranteed Contracts
- John Salmons ($8,083,000)
- Marcus Thornton ($7,525,000)
- Francisco Garcia ($6,100,000)
- Chuck Hayes ($5,486,250)
- Tyreke Evans ($5,251,825)
- DeMarcus Cousins ($3,880,800)
- Travis Outlaw ($3,000,000)
- Jimmer Fredette ($2,339,040)
- Tyler Honeycutt ($809,875)
Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Contracts
- Hassan Whiteside ($854,389)
- Isaiah Thomas ($762,195)
Free Agents (Cap Holds)
- Jason Thompson ($7,503,210)
- Donte Greene ($4,199,785)
- Terrence Williams ($1,060,120 – QO)
Draft Picks
- 1st Round (Pending lottery; 7.6% chance at first overall pick)
- 2nd Round (36th overall)
Cap Outlook
- Guaranteed Salary (including likely options): $42,475,790
- Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $14,379,699
- Total (not including draft picks): $56,855,489
It was an ugly season for Sacramento both on the court, where the team only managed 22 wins, and off the court, where a handshake agreement on a new arena gradually fell apart. The Kings will play the 2012/13 season in Sacramento, but the franchise's long-term future is very much up in the air.
For all the uncertainty surrounding the Kings' arena, the roster itself appears unlikely to be overhauled significantly this summer. Of Sacramento's current 14 players, nine have guaranteed contracts for next year, two are on non-guaranteed deals, and three are restricted free agents — if they chose to, the Kings could bring all 14 players back, along with their lottery pick.
Of course, after finishing with the league's fifth-worst record, it's more likely that the Kings make at least a few small changes. Isaiah Thomas will certainly have his deal guaranteed, and Jason Thompson and Terrence Williams seem like decent bets to re-sign with the club, but it wouldn't be surprising if the team parted ways with Donte Greene and Hassan Whiteside.
Even if they re-sign Thompson and Williams and lock up their lottery pick, the Kings would have a little room to bring aboard a free agent or two. However, given the on- and off-court situation in Sacramento, the team will likely have to overpay to bring aboard a decent player. When the Kings had cap room last summer, Chuck Hayes and Travis Outlaw were their major additions, and now represent two of their most undesirable contracts.
Sacramento's best chance to make a splash this summer involves two of its wing scorers, John Salmons and Tyreke Evans. Salmons is the only real amnesty candidate on the roster, since only pre-lockout contracts are eligible under the provision. After coming over from Milwaukee, Salmons had a tremendously disappointing 2011/12 campaign, hampered by injuries and averaging just 7.5 points per game. He's under contract for nearly $16MM over the next two seasons, and has a partially-guaranteed year for 2014/15. If the Kings are able to draft a player like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal to replace him, it could make sense to amnesty Salmons, their highest-paid player.
Evans, meanwhile, is entering the final season of his rookie contract and will be eligible for a contract extension, but a trade seems at least as likely as an extension. Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee suggested recently that the Kings would "entertain offers" for Evans this summer, and it would definitely make some sense to deal him and move forward by building around DeMarcus Cousins, Marcus Thornton, and this year's first-round pick.
With free agents unlikely to sign in Sacramento and the team's owners unlikely to spend big on outside talent anyway, the Kings' best chance at improving their roster will come via trades and the draft. If Sacramento can find a reasonable offer for Evans and make it through the lottery with a top-five pick, that could be enough to consider the offseason a success.
Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.
Coach/GM Notes: McMillan, Petrie, Woodson, SVG
As teams continue to play their final games of the 2011/12 season, jobs on NBA benches and in NBA front offices will begin to open up. Already, rumors are swirling about who could be on the hot seat and who could be in line for a new position, so let's round up a few Monday morning coach and GM updates….
- It seems likely that Nate McMillan will return to an NBA bench soon, and the former Trail Blazers coach isn't necessarily interested in a win-now position, as he tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. "Coaching is coaching," McMillan said. "It would be a new beginning for me. Young team or a veteran team….If you're saying, 'I'm just looking for a veteran team,' that's not true." There has been some speculation that McMillan could be a fit for the Bobcats.
- McMillan's old team in Portland is seeking a GM, and Kings president Geoff Petrie has been cited as a possible candidate. Victor Contreras of the Sacramento Bee says that if the Blazers are interested, Petrie should listen, given Sacramento's uncertain future.
- On a conference call with reporters this morning, Knicks coach Mike Woodson dismissed questions about his future with the team: "Right now, it's not about Mike Woodson and my contract… I'm still coaching this team and the job is not done."
- Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel doesn't believe Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy have "kissed and made up" and says it would be impossible for both to return to the Magic next season.
Best Second-Round Picks Of 2011
There's a bold line between the first and second rounds in the NBA draft. First-rounders get guaranteed contracts that last two years with team options for third and fourth seasons. Nothing's certain for second-rounders, who often fail to make the team out of training camp and find themselves scrambling for a job. Still, plenty of quality players emerge after pick No. 30, like Carlos Boozer, Marc Gasol and Monta Ellis. Here's a look at the top performers picked in last year's second round:
- The last player picked in the second round (and the entire draft) might be the best of them. Former University of Washington point guard Isaiah Thomas was impressive enough for the Kings to move Tyreke Evans to small forward to accomodate him in the starting lineup. He improved his PPG and APG each month, and wound up averaging 14.8 points and 5.4 assists in 37 games as a starter. He's on a three-year unguaranteed minimum-salary deal.
- The Rockets didn't treat Florida product Chandler Parsons much like a player picked 38th overall for the Rockets this year. They gave him a four-year deal worth more than $3.6MM that's guaranteed for his first two seasons, and he started all but nine of the team's games, averaging 9.5 PPG and 4.8 RPG. The 6'9" forward was particularly effective in March, when he shot 52.6% and put up 12.9 PPG and 5.8 RPG.
- Stephen Curry's creaky ankles opened up a spot in the Warriors starting lineup for Charles Jenkins, and the 44th overall pick out of Hofstra took advantage. He averaged 9.4 PPG and 6.3 APG in 16 April games, all as a starter. He has one more season left on his contract, which is an unguaranteed minimum-salary deal.
- Few expected much of a pro career from Josh Harrellson when he was at Kentucky, but the 6'10", 275-pound center is a playoff contributor for the Knicks. He started four games but has been primarily a bench option, though his 13.7 PER and 9.6 rebounds per 36 minutes show he's been productive when called upon. The last season of his two-year minimum-salary contract is not guaranteed.
- Lavoy Allen got the start in Game 1 of the playoffs for the Sixers, an unlikely fate when the team drafted him 50th overall out of Temple. He also started 15 games in the regular season, but saw only 18.9 minutes per game in those starts. Still, like Harrellson, he displayed a knack for rebounding in his limited floor time, collecting 9.9 boards per 36 minutes. He has no deal for next season yet, and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
Petrie On Thompson, Free Agency, Draft, Whiteside
Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee sat down for a Q&A with Geoff Petrie, president of basketball operations for the Kings, and discussed a number of topics. Here are the highlights of the two–part interview:
- Restricted free agent power forward Jason Thompson is "somebody we will definitely give the qualifying offer to and look to re-sign," Petrie says.
- The team will look to make roster changes that add interior defense, three-point shooting and offensive efficiency this summer.
- The draft lottery will help decide how the team allocates its resources with regard to free agents. The Kings currently sit in the fifth slot, with a 7.6% chance of grabbing the No. 1 pick.
- The deepest positions in the draft are power forward and center, Petrie believes, and he says the team will not pick a player from overseas in the first round.
- With the team already about $15MM under the cap and no plans to spend major money in the offseason, Petrie says there's no pressing need to use the amnesty clause.
- It's been hard to assess second-year center Hassan Whiteside, who's been limited to only 19 career NBA games in large part because of injuries. His minimum-salary deal becomes guaranteed for next season if he's not waived by July 15. Petrie said the team will work with him over the summer, so that seems like a sign they'll keep him around.
- Petrie has one year left on his contract, and was noncommittal when asked how much longer he would stay in his position. "I honestly don't think about that," he said. "I think about next year and what we do. Whatever the future holds after that, personally or collectively, I really don't spend much time pondering that."
Latest On Trail Blazers’ GM Search
Team president Larry Miller and other members of the Trail Blazers' front office continue to conduct interviews for the club's general manager opening, says Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune. Eggers has a number of updates related to Portland's search, so let's round them up:
- Miller isn't sure how many candidates the team will interview. "We want to make sure with our decision. I don't want to have to do this again," Miller said, adding: "If we talk to somebody and this is our guy, that would be the end of it."
- The Trail Blazers met with Steve Kerr in April, and Kerr says the two sides "exchanged a lot of ideas" and that he learned a lot about the organization. However, he also reiterated that, while the situation intrigues him, he's not interested in the position right now.
- Geoff Petrie is considered a possibility for the opening and remains "highly regarded" by members of the Blazers' organization, says Eggers. Petrie expects to remain in his front office role in Sacramento though: "At this point in my career, I'd like to see us turn the corner (with the Kings), given our circumstances the last four years."
- While acting GM Chad Buchanan remains a candidate for the job, Miller says no interview is necessary for Buchanan, who has worked in the organization for eight years.
- Members of the Blazers' front office have been making visits to college campuses to learn more about potential draft targets, though Miller and Buchanan both say trading a pick or two for a veteran player is a possibility.
Odds & Ends: Raptors, Bulls, Magic, Frye
Here are this evening's miscellaneous stories:
- Lang Greene of HoopsWorld had his weekly chat with fans tonight. Among the more significant things he talked about were the chances that Tyreke Evans gets shopped this summer, the Nets pursuing Kevin Garnett if Deron Williams leaves, the Hornets matching any offer for Eric Gordon, and Portland being the realistic destination for Goran Dragic.
- With $12MM in cap space before the draft, Bryan Colangelo talked about the Raptors' approach going into the offseason: "If there was going to be a year to make a bigger splash, whether in free agency or utilizing the space to acquire players by trade, I felt that would be better served in a subsequent season and that’s probably this summer" (Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld reports). Colangelo also told Brotherston that he and Ed Stefanski will be very active in terms of placing and entertaining calls with other GMs in the upcoming weeks and months.
- Scoop Jackson, Melissa Isaacson, and Jon Greenberg of ESPN cover a few topics on the Bulls, including how Derrick Rose's injury will affect Chicago's title hopes over the next two years, whether Luol Deng should immediately get surgery and skip the Olympics, and Carlos Boozer's reliability in the playoffs.
- Magic GM Otis Smith traveled to Los Angeles to check on Dwight Howard as he recuperates from surgery, according to Illiana Limón and Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. While there had been speculation that Howard is estranged from the franchise, Smith and Magic CEO Alex Martins say that he hasn't asked for a trade.
- Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times provides a "to-do list" for the Nuggets if they are to have any chance at beating the Lakers.
- Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas wonders if the Mavericks should make strategic defensive adjustments on Russell Westbrook or just hope that he starts missing mid-range jumpshots.
- An article posted on Suns.com reports that Channing Frye underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder today.
Odds & Ends: Kahn, Howard, Parzenski, Kings
As the Celtics, 76ers, and Nuggets look to even up their respective series tonight before heading home, let's round up some odds and ends from around the league:
- NBA commissioner David Stern doesn't believe Derrick Rose's torn ACL or other major injuries were caused by the condensed 2011/12 schedule, as he told Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio. ESPN Chicago has details and quotes.
- Stephen Litel of HoopsWorld wonders if keeping David Kahn as the team's GM is the best idea for the Timberwolves. Minnesota exercised its option on Kahn for 2012/13 last week.
- Magic GM Otis Smith will travel to the Los Angeles area to check in on Dwight Howard's recovery from back surgery, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
- Polish seven-footer Jakub Parzenski declared for the draft prior to Sunday's early-entry deadline, tweets Jonathon Givony of DraftExpress.com. Parzenski is ranked just 20th among 1991-born international players by DraftExpress.
- Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee outlines the latest developments, or lack thereof, in the "unhappy marriage" between the Kings and the city of Sacramento.
Odds & Ends: Nuggets, Howard, Hornets, Celtics
It was a rough night for the Knicks in South Beach. First, the Heat went up 2-0 in their first round series with a 104-94 win behind 25 points from Dwyane Wade. Later, reporters were held out of the Knicks' locker room as Amare Stoudemire was being tended to for lacerations on his left hand. It appears that the big man took his frustrations out on a fire extinguisher and his status for Game 3 could be in jeopardy. Here's more from around the league..
- The Nuggets are using the playoffs to find their center of the future, writes Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post.
- Magic GM Otis Smith plans to visit Dwight Howard in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter). There's no word on what the two will discuss upon Smith's arrival, but some have speculated that Howard is once again estranged from the team.
- The Hornets got approval for a tax break extension that is essential to keeping them in New Orleans through 2024, writes Ed Anderson of The Times-Picayune.
- A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com wonders aloud if Rajon Rondo has what it takes to be the Celtics' leader of the future following his one-game suspension. While Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen may not factor into the C's plans next year, the point guard will be in the mix for the foreseeable future.
- Michael Jordan should buck his trend of hiring friends as he did with GM Rich Cho if he hopes to turn the Bobcats' fortunes around, writes Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated.
- Blazers center Hasheem Thabeet reiterated his desire to return to Portland next season in a media scrum with outlets including CSNNW.com (video link), but the club has yet to talk about a new deal with the big man. The former second-overall pick came from the Rockets along with Jonny Flynn and a future second-round pick at the trade deadline in exchange for Marcus Camby.
- Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee outlined three possible scenarios for the Kings and their stadium situation.
- Kobe Bryant acknowledged that this playoff run will be crucial to coach Mike Brown's future in Los Angeles, writes Brian Kamenetzky of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Pacific Notes: Thompson, Lakers, Warriors
The Lakers and Clippers are tipping off their playoff series this weekend, but the rest of the Pacific Division is turning its attention to the offseason. Here's the latest news from the West Coast:
- Among the free agents on Sacramento's roster, Jason Thompson is the most likely to return, writes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. Jones says the Kings will likely extend a qualifying offer that will allow them to retain the right to match any other offer the power forward receives this summer.
- Lakers executive VP of player personnel Jim Buss acknowledges how great a player Chris Paul has been for the Clippers, but isn't looking back with regret on the team's failed CP3 trade before the season, according to comments he made to 710 ESPN's Mason & Ireland show (via Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com).
- If the Warriors get to keep their first-round pick, they'll have four total selections in the draft, but if that's the case, new GM Bob Myers says the team is unlikely to keep them all, notes Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group.