Odds & Ends: Brooks, Kahn, Raptors, McCants
Aaron Brooks' Guangdong Southern Tigers are making a run at the Chinese Basketball Association title, delaying his return to Phoenix. When his season in China ends, Brooks will find himself in a situation similar to Wilson Chandler's in Denver and Patrick Mills' in Portland, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic outlines. I expect the longer Brooks remains in China, the less likely he is to play in the NBA this year, since he'll be a restricted free agent again this summer if he sits out the season.
Here are a few more Thursday links from around the Association:
- David Kahn is in the final year of his contract, but the Timberwolves hold team options on Kahn for the next two years, and owner Glen Taylor tells Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press he wants to keep his GM around.
- In addition to rounding up a few rumors in his morning column for HoopsWorld, Steve Kyler also talked trades in a chat today.
- The Raptors are contemplating their trade options as the deadline approaches, says Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld.
- Rashad McCants told Primera Hora that his agent advised him to play in Puerto Rico as a potential route back to the NBA (hat tip to Sportando for the translation).
- Pistons GM Joe Dumars, who told MLive earlier this week that he's "talking to everybody," answers a few more trade-related questions from Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News.
Atlantic Notes: Calipari, Nets, Raptors, Turner
The Celtics pulled to within one game of the 76ers for the Atlantic Division lead after last night's overtime win against Houston. As the two teams prepare to square off for division supremacy tonight in Philadelphia, let's round up the latest out of the Atlantic…
- University of Kentucky coach John Calipari may be "in the crosshairs" of Nets management, says Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
- Brook Lopez's ankle injury doesn't mean the Nets will be any less active at the trade deadline, as GM Billy King tells Fred Kerber of the New York Post.
- Doug Smith of the Toronto Star discusses possible uses for the roster spot the Raptors expect to free up by parting ways with Anthony Carter.
- At one point, John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News believed the 76ers would trade Andre Iguodala and keep Evan Turner long-term, but now he's convinced they'll do the opposite.
- According to a CBS Philly report, longtime Daily News writer Stan Hochman told Sportsradio 94WIP today that there's an explanation for Turner's inconsistent play that has yet to go public. However, 94WIP hears from a Sixers' front office source that the team isn't aware what Hochman is referring to. Hoffman has since apologized for making the remarks, but at the same time did not exactly back off his claim that something is going on: "I will not reveal my source, nor the nature of what I was told, but it was wrong to say what I said."
Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Rondo, Raptors, Nets
The Celtics enter tonight's contest against Houston riding a four-game winning streak thanks in no small part to the play of Rajon Rondo. Rondo was nothing short of stellar on Sunday afternoon, finishing with 18 points, 20 assists and 17 rebounds en route to his second triple-double in three games. Here's a look at the C's and the rest of the Atlantic Division..
- Zach Lowe of Sports Illustrated took a gander at Rondo in an attempt to quantify the point guard's trade value. Rondo's performance could arguably suffer if he were without Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to spread out defenses, but Lowe wonders if he might benefit working with less shooters and more off-the-dribble help.
- With star prospect Jonas Valanciunas thriving in Lithuania, the Raptors should consider moving Andrea Bargnani prior to the trade deadline, writes AJ Mitnick of Sheridan Hoops. In Lithuanian league play the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft is leading the league in scoring with 16.1 PPG and third in the league with 7.6 RPG in just 22.8 minutes per game.
- Nets coach Avery Johnson is disappointed for Brook Lopez as the center will be out of action for at least three weeks with a sprained ankle, writes Colin Stephenson of The Star-Ledger. Lopez remains centerpiece of the team's efforts to trade for Dwight Howard but Stephenson writes that it gives Orlando something more to think about before pulling the trigger.
Odds & Ends: Randolph, Carter, Bulls, Vazquez
While the returns of J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler from the Chinese Basketball Association grabbed more headlines over the last month or so, there are other former NBA players still returning from overseas in search of NBA gigs. One such player is former 76ers forward Shavlik Randolph, who averaged 24.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 1.6 BPG in China this season. According to Sportando, Randolph is "in serious talks" with two NBA clubs and could sign a deal soon. While we wait to see if the Duke product can find his way back to an NBA roster, let's check out a few more links from around the league….
- With the Raptors looking to trade or release Anthony Carter, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel thinks the point guard could be a solid insurance policy for the Heat.
- After Richard Hamilton left last night's game with another injury, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune wondered whether the Bulls will need to acquire a shooting guard via trade. Prior to last year's deadline, Johnson says, Chicago discussed deals for O.J. Mayo and Courtney Lee. The Bulls announced today that Hamilton is day-to-day with a shoulder contusion and mild sprain.
- The Magic still own the NBA rights to 2005 draft pick Fran Vazquez and hope to bring him over for next season, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.
- David Thorpe of ESPN.com (Insider link) lists the five best "chemistry" guys potentially available at the deadline. His picks: Pau Gasol, Paul Millsap, Gerald Wallace, Chris Andersen, and Rajon Rondo.
- Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee questions why the Kings felt they had to make the decision to exercise Keith Smart's 2012/13 option so soon.
- A few potential first-round draft picks could be running out of time to showcase their in-game skills, writes Chad Ford of ESPN.com in an Insider-only piece.
Raptors To Part Ways With Anthony Carter
The Raptors will release Anthony Carter if they can't find a trade partner in the next week and a half, according to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. The move would reduce Toronto's roster to 14 players.
Carter, who signed with the Raptors prior to the season for the veteran's minimum, has seen very limited playing time in Toronto this season. The 36-year-old has averaged 2.0 PPG and 1.4 APG in 8.7 MPG over 24 contests, and hasn't seen the floor in three March games for the club.
According to Smith, the move isn't necessarily a precursor to another transaction, though it would leave a roster spot open for a 10-day signing or trade. The Raptors just prefer to give their young players more court time and give Carter the opportunity to catch on with a contender.
Smith’s Latest: Celtics, DeRozan, Daye, Beaubois
After previewing the Bulls' upcoming matchups with Eastern Conference contenders, Sam Smith of Bulls.com checks in on some rumors from around the league. Here are a few highlights from Smith's latest column:
- Celtics talk should pick up over the next week and a half, but Smith wonders if, rather than trading Rajon Rondo or the Big Three, GM Danny Ainge could try to move Brandon Bass to clear more cap space for two major free agents this summer.
- DeMar DeRozan "isn't as untouchable as once believed," writes Smith. Given DeRozan's lack of improvement this season, that isn't a huge surprise, but I doubt the Raptors would sell low on him.
- Austin Daye has played just over six minutes in the Pistons' last eight games, and Smith thinks he could be an intriguing gamble for some team, if Detroit makes him available.
- According to Smith, if the Mavericks want to create summer cap space by moving Shawn Marion's contract either during or after the season, packaging him with Rodrigue Beaubois could make it easier to find a taker. The 24-year-old Beaubois has averaged 13.8 points and 2.0 steals per game in four games since the All-Star break.
Injuries That Could Affect The Trade Deadline
Deron Williams may have scored a franchise-record 57 points en route to a Sunday victory over the Bobcats, but the news out of Charlotte wasn't all good for the Nets. In just his fifth game back from a foot injury, Brook Lopez rolled his ankle badly and left the arena on crutches. There's still no official word from the team on the severity of the injury, but as Fred Kerber of the New York Post writes, it could deal a serious blow to the Nets' hopes of trading for Dwight Howard in the next ten days.
Lopez isn't the only trade candidate who could be on the shelf as the March 15th deadline approaches. Here are a few more players whose injury statuses may affect the deals their respective teams can make in the next week and a half:
- Jermaine O'Neal: The Celtics would need to include salary to make any deal of substance, so O'Neal's $6.23MM expiring contract made him a prime candidate to be included in a trade to ensure salaries match. Unfortunately for Boston, O'Neal recently suffered a wrist injury and may undergo season-ending surgery. If he elects for the surgery, there's a chance O'Neal could be waived by the Celtics.
- Al Horford: Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group reported last week that the Hawks were still interested in Dwight Howard, perhaps in a deal involving Horford. While such a trade would be a long shot to begin with, Horford's torn pectoral makes it even trickier. Already reluctant to deal Howard, the Magic would probably be even more wary about doing so for a player who is just recently out of a sling.
- Anderson Varejao: Varejao will be re-evaluated this week, but it looks like he won't return to the Cavs' lineup until after March 15th. Before the injury, the Cavs said they didn't intend to trade Varejao, though there was some speculation that stance could change by the deadline. With Varejao still out, he'll definitely be remaining in Cleveland.
- Jordan Hill: Among the Rockets' numerous former lottery picks on expiring contracts, Hill is the most attractive asset. While that may be faint praise, Hill has been the most productive of the group of four 2009 draftees that also includes Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, and Terrence Williams, and his salary ($2.86MM) is very reasonable. However, a sprained MCL has kept Hill out of action for the last couple weeks, and even though he expects to return within the next week, he won't have much time to showcase his health before the deadline.
- J.J. Hickson: The Kings are reportedly quite interested in moving Hickson, but they've stumbled upon a roadblock besides his disappointing production this season — he'll miss his third straight game tonight with a hip pointer.
- Thabo Sefolosha: Having missed 18 games with a foot injury, Sefolosha is shooting jump shots again, but it doesn't appear he's ready for game action yet. Steve Kyler wrote this morning that the Thunder could try to acquire a replacement if the team feels Sefolosha will miss much more time. The 6'7" wing also represented a potential trade asset for the Thunder, but questions about his health will hurt his value.
- Andrea Bargnani: Bargnani seems to be getting closer to returning from a calf injury, and could be back in plenty of time for the trade deadline, but it may not matter either way. As Kyler reported today, the Raptors are getting inquiries on Bargnani, but don't seem interested in dealing him.
Kyler On Thunder, Howard, Crawford, Young
Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld wraps up his look at trade options for all 30 NBA clubs today, running alphabetically from Oklahoma City through Washington. You can find our recaps of the first two installments in the series here and here. Now, let's round up a few of the highlights from Kyler in part three….
- The Thunder aren't actively engaged in any trade talks, but if they're concerned about Thabo Sefolosha's foot injury lingering, they could look into acquiring a defensive-minded replacement.
- Sources close to the Dwight Howard process say the Magic are at least 50% sure they can keep D12 around for another season, if not longer. If that's the case, a blockbuster trade involving Howard is unlikely. Orlando is working hard to acquire pieces around its star center, though the team's lack of assets is making it a challenge.
- Daniel Orton is "a safe bet" to be traded by the Magic.
- While the 76ers have trade chips, they're unlikely to make a move before the deadline.
- The Suns would gladly move Josh Childress, Hakim Warrick, or Robin Lopez.
- Kyler hears from sources close to Jamal Crawford that the Blazers guard hasn't requested a trade, but that he wouldn't be opposed to being sent to a less chaotic situation.
- The Spurs haven't had "meaningful discussions" with any potential trade partners, and will probably stand pat at the deadline.
- The Raptors may be active in the next ten days, but Toronto continues to turn away proposals for Andrea Bargnani.
- Although the Jazz have some strong trade assets, they probably would want to include Devin Harris in any deals, which could turn off potential suitors for other players.
- Having accepted a qualifying offer from the Wizards this season, Nick Young can veto any deal that sends him out of town. However, Kyler hears that Young would welcome a move.
Crawford Drawing Interest From Several Teams
7:49pm Chris Haynes of Comcast SportsNet Northwest asserts that the Timberwolves and Clippers "are very interested" but can't confirm the other teams being mentioned. (Twitter link).
7:20pm Before the season started, then-free agent Jamal Crawford decided to sign with the Trail Blazers after fielding offers from several teams. With almost ten days before the NBA trade deadline, the 6'5 guard could find himself on the move again, reports Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld.com. While the Timberwolves and the Clippers appear to be the most aggressive in attempting to trade for Crawford, the Bucks, Kings, and Raptors have also sent out their feelers.
The 12th-year veteran is averaging 14.8 PPG, shooting 36.2% from three-point range, and is third in the league in free throw percentage at 92.8%. Crawford possesses a player option for next season and can opt out of his contract this summer. With a recent report of uncertainty brewing within the Trail Blazers' locker room, there is a possibility that Portland deals Crawford for value before the deadline rather than risk losing him for nothing to upcoming free agency.
Trade Candidate: Jose Calderon
Every year around this time, it seems, there are suggestions that the Raptors could do better at point guard than Jose Calderon. And yet he still remains in Toronto, now in his seventh season as a Raptor. He's barely a double-figure scorer, averaging 10.9 PPG this season after putting up only 9.8 PPG a year ago, but his 8.8 APG this season has him third in the league in that category. That number isn't a fluke, either, as two of the previous three seasons he averaged 8.9 APG.
Perhaps the reason he pops up in trade rumors so consistently is that other teams covet his playmaking ability. Yesterday we passed along Marc Stein's report in which he said the Lakers have inquired about Calderon, but the Raptors are unwilling to take on salary in such a deal. Calderon makes $9.78MM this season, so he wouldn't fit into the $8.9MM trade exception the Lakers have, and other parts would have to be added to the deal.
The reason the Raptors may be so reluctant to add salary this year might be because they're bumping up against the luxury tax threshold. Strange as it may be for a team with an 11-25 record, the Raps' $69.72MM cap hit this year, according to Storytellers Contracts, is not far below the $70.307MM tax line. That may also be reason why Toronto would be reluctant to offer Calderon to the Suns in a deal that would bring home native Canadian Steve Nash, who makes more than Calderon does.
Hasan Alanam of Canada.com explored five possible destinations for Calderon last month, pegging the Lakers, Hawks, Blazers, Jazz and Magic as potential suitors. There's even a rumor suggesting he'll end up in Orlando as part of a Dwight Howard deal. While the possibilities abound, don't expect this year's trade deadline to be any different for Calderon. I'm inclined to believe he'll be sticking around, but next season, when he 's due $10.56MM in the final year of his contract, may be when the Raps finally make their move.