Reaction To Lamar Odom/Mo Williams Trade
Lamar Odom is finally heading back to Los Angeles after a lost year in Dallas, as the Mavericks, Clippers, Jazz and Rockets finalized a four-team deal that makes Odom a Clipper and Mo Williams a part of a crowded backcourt in Utah. There's plenty of reaction to the trade, including its effect on the Mavs and their pursuit of major free agents. As Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld notes, the Mavs can only use the $8.9MM trade exception they got in the deal if they don't want to renounce the rights to some of their own free agents and go under the salary cap, which they'd have to do to sign Deron Williams or another big-time target from a different team. If the Mavs don't land a major free agent, they can go over the cap to sign their own guys and use the trade exception to swing a deal for another player who can help. Here's the rest of what NBA writers are saying about the trade:
Jazz To Retain DeMarre Carroll, Jamaal Tinsley
8:48pm: The Jazz will pick up its option on Tinsley, Smith confirms (Twitter link).
7:33pm: Smith tweets that the Jazz will pick up Tinsley's option, while Kennedy says via Twitter that the situation is now uncertain despite the team having told Tinsley earlier today that they would decline the option. The two sides will speak tonight, according to Kennedy.
7:29pm: The Jazz will retain forward DeMarre Carroll, tweets Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune, while HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy tweets that the Jazz will turn down its $1.35MM option on point guard Jamaal Tinsley. Smith refers to the Carroll move as the team picking up an option, but Carroll's contract was actually non-guaranteed for next season. In any case, the Jazz will have Carroll at the minimum $885,120 for 2012/13.
Odom To Clips, Williams To Jazz In 4-Team Deal
The four-team deal between the Jazz, Mavericks, Clippers and Rockets that sends Lamar Odom to the Clippers and Mo Williams to Utah has been finalized, according to a release by the Mavs.
Mavs, Clippers, Jazz Agree To Odom Deal
FRIDAY, 6:17pm: The deal, which could become official later today, will also involve the Rockets, who'll receive Furkan Aldemir, taken 53rd by the Clippers in Thursday's draft, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. The Rockets will send cash to the Mavs, tweets fellow Los Angeles Times writer Brad Turner.
FRIDAY, 5:32pm: The Mavericks and Odom have agreed to extend the deadline to fully guarantee Odom's contract by one day, until tomorrow, so that the trade can be finalized, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com says "only paperwork" is left to be done before the deal is official (Twitter links).
4:43pm: Williams has agreed to join the Jazz, a source tells Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune (via Twitter).
Post-Draft Rumors: Suns, Lakers, Hawks, Jazz
A handful of draft trades were consummated tonight, but we didn't get treated to the blockbuster moves many were hoping for or expecting. The highest pick to change hands was the Mavericks' first-rounder, 17th overall. Still, the absence of lottery movement wasn't for lack of trying. With the 2012 draft in the books, rumors are beginning to trickle out about failed deals that teams explored. We're likely to hear about many of those in the coming days, but here are a few that surfaced immediately in the wake of the draft:
- The Suns explored ways to acquire a late-first-round pick to acquire the slipping Perry Jones III, tweets Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.
Earlier updates:
Clippers Exploring Trade For Lamar Odom
THURSDAY, 1:59pm: The Jazz, willing to take on Mo Williams' contract, have emerged as a potential third team in a deal between the Mavs and Clippers, Stein and Chad Ford report. The deal is contingent on Williams exercising his $8.5MM option for next year. Realistically, Stein and Ford say, the deadline for the deal to happen is Friday, since that's when Odom's contract becomes fully guaranteed for next year.
TUESDAY, 11:40pm: The Clippers have engaged the Mavericks in trade talks to discuss the possibility of acquiring Lamar Odom, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. For the Clips, a deal for Odom may hinge on their ability to find a third club willing to take on the contract of Mo Williams, says Stein. Involving a third team would allow the Mavericks to consummate a deal without taking back significant salary.
Draft Rumors: Wednesday
With draft night fast approaching, our Tuesday draft rumors post seemed to go on forever, and we're expecting things to be just as busy today. Earlier this morning, we published our second and final mock draft, but given the amount of trade chatter around the league, it wouldn't be surprising if some of our predictions were rendered moot within a matter of hours. We'll follow today's draft-related news and rumors right here, with the latest updates added to the top of the page throughout the day….
- ESPN's Andy Katz tweets that Dion Waiters could now be a possibility for the Cavaliers at the 4th pick. If Waiters lands in the top 5, his draft stock will have shot up boards over the past few months in historical fashion.
Ford’s Latest: Ross, Cavs, Bucks, Rockets, Jazz
The Cavaliers are bringing in Terrence Ross for a private workout today, which raises some eyebrows, since Ross would be a major reach at fourth overall, but isn't expected to slip to 24th. Could the Cavs be looking at Ross in case of a trade? According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider link), while Cleveland is still exploring moving up from No. 24, the team may also be seriously considering moving down from No. 4 if it means acquiring multiple assets. Here are a few more draft-related rumors from Ford….
Draft Updates: Sunday
With the draft just four days away, teams are scurrying to get their plans in order before Thursday evening's big event in Newark, NJ. Saturday saw another full slate of draft rumors and Sunday's already shaping up to look the same. Ft. Worth Star-Telegram's Dwain Price reports the Mavs will be looking to add a rotation-type player with the 17th pick. We'll keep track of all of the day's latest draft news and happenings with the most recent information on top.
- The Rockets are looking to move into the top 10, dangling some combination of picks 14, 16 and Kyle Lowry, says Chad Ford. Ford suspects that the Rockets are eyeing UConn's Andre Drummond and could be speaking with the Kings at pick 5 and the Raptors at pick 8.
- Jodie Valade addresses the comparisons between Bradley Beal and Ray Allen in a story for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, implying that Beal could be more versatile than Allen.
- Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group takes a look at potential Warriors targets Moe Harkless, Terrence Ross and Quincy Miller and where the selection of the three wings would make sense for Golden State.
Draft Updates: Saturday
We've already covered a few draft rumors today, and Zach Links went in-depth on West Virginia power forward Kevin Jones in our latest Prospect Profile. There's plenty more going on as the draft approaches, including news from John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer that the Sixers put point guard Marquis Teague through an "exhaustive" individual workout this morning. Bookmark this post for the rest of the day's draft news, with latest on top.
- Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star has an article on the Pacers' scouting staff as they prepare to pick 26th overall in Thursday's draft.
- Kurt Helin of NBC Sports looks at several players with the potential to become the second-best talents in the draft.
- Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News suggests Meyers Leonard as a possible fit for the Warriors.
- The Lakers are in talks to acquire a first-round pick, and could be after the Heat's selection at No. 27, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio tweets.
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer offers his thoughts on the implications of a rumored swap of the second and fourth picks by the Bobcats and Cavs.
- Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group thinks the Warriors could trade down from No. 7 and still get the player they want, unless it's Damian Lillard or Dion Waiters. He also believes the team will give serious consideration to Andre Drummond (Twitter links).
- We have the latest from Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com in a separate post.
Earlier updates: