Odds & Ends: Pistons, Kobe, Nelson, Nene, Nets
Some Wednesday afternoon items from around the NBA:
- Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News identifies John Henson as a potential fit for the Pistons in the draft and explores the team's upcoming amnesty-related decision.
- Prior to last season's blood-platelet therapy, Kobe Bryant was seriously questioning his basketball future, says Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
- In addition to conducting a Cavaliers-centric chat this afternoon, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio examined a few potential NBA coaching openings.
- Chad Ford of ESPN.com also answered questions in a chat that featured a number of interesting draft tidbits.
- The Magic and their fans shouldn't let the Dwight Howard saga overshadow Jameer Nelson's future in Orlando, argues Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
- Michael Lee of the Washington Post writes about the positive influence Nene had on the Wizards' young players following the deal that sent him to Washington in March. When I previewed the Wizards' offseason yesterday, I noted that finding another strong veteran presence like Nene could have a strong impact on the team's young nucleus.
- Fred Kerber of the New York Post wonders which of the Nets' free agents will be re-signed this summer.
Offseason Outlook: Washington Wizards
Guaranteed Contracts
- Nene ($13,000,000)
- Andray Blatche ($7,118,502)
- John Wall ($5,915,880)
- Jan Vesely ($3,202,920)
- Kevin Seraphin ($1,797,600)
- Chris Singleton ($1,551,840)
- Trevor Booker ($1,385,280)
- Jordan Crawford ($1,198,680)
Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Contracts
- Rashard Lewis ($22,699,551; partially guaranteed for $13,699,551)
- Shelvin Mack ($762,195)
Free Agents (Cap Holds)
- Cartier Martin ($1,060,120 – QO)
- Morris Almond ($1,060,120 – QO)
- Brian Cook ($854,389)
- Maurice Evans ($854,389)
- James Singleton ($854,389)
Draft Picks
- 1st Round (Pending lottery; 19.9% chance at first overall pick)
- 2nd Round (32nd overall)
- 2nd Round (46th overall)
Cap Outlook
- Guaranteed Salary: $48,870,253
- Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $14,445,602
- Total (not including draft picks): $63,315,855
2011/12 was a tale of two seasons for the Washington Wizards, who took an ugly 9-33 record into the trade deadline. On March 15th, the Wizards traded away two veterans in JaVale McGee and Nick Young; a few days later the team shut down Andray Blatche for the remainder of the season. Washington went on to post an 11-13 post-deadline record, including a 7-4 mark in games that new Wizard Nene played.
While calling the Wizards a .500 team going forward may be a little optimistic, there are certainly reasons to be optimistic. The arrival of Nene seemed to have a positive impact on the team both on and off the court, and the disappointing and out-of-shape Blatche may have played his last game as a Wizard. And while Washington hasn't quite reached the end of Rashard Lewis' bloated contract, the team has the option of riding it out for one more season or buying him out and saving $9MM.
Besides Nene, Blatche, and Lewis, every Wizards player with a guaranteed contract next season is still on his rookie contract. John Wall, Kevin Seraphin, Jordan Crawford, and Trevor Booker are entering their third years, while Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton will be second-year players. The Wizards are a young team and figure to get a little younger in June, with three draft picks, including a top-five selection.
The primary goal of 2012/13 for the Wizards should be figuring out which of those young players are long-term core pieces and which are expendable. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the kids should get all the playing time — I think Washington's young core would benefit from some veteran leadership, and a healthy Nene is a good start. But the Wizards' focus this summer should be on continuing to surround their young talent with the right kind of veteran presence. That means deciding whether to bring back Blatche or Lewis, or to simply cut their losses.
There's not much chance the Wizards find a trade they like for Blatche, so the amnesty clause seems like the obvious solution to wipe the remaining three years on his contract off the books. Lewis represents a trickier case, since he'll count for nearly $14MM against the cap whether or not he's on the team, but I think it makes sense to let him go. If he's a Wizard next season, Lewis will likely just be playing out the string, looking ahead to eventually joining a contender. Adding a veteran free agent that genuinely wants to be in Washington will have a more positive effect on Wall and the young core — it's just a matter of finding a veteran willing to choose a team coming off a 20-46 season.
March's blockbuster Nene trade was the Wizards' first step in shedding the team's old reputation and building a new-look roster. Parting ways with Blatche and Lewis this summer should be the second step. Washington also has a one-in-five chance of landing Anthony Davis to really fast-track the rebuilding process, but even if the draft lottery isn't kind to them, the Wizards are on the right track with Wall, Nene, and a young nucleus of players that won't get too expensive for a few more years.
Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.
Wizards Will Again Try To Trade Blatche
The Wizards were one of the league's more active teams at last month's trade deadline, shipping JaVale McGee and Nick Young out of town in a blockbuster deal that landed them Nene. Washington also tried to move Andray Blatche, but couldn't find a taker. The Wizards will continue to try to trade Blatche this summer, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, who says there's a good chance the forward has played his final game with the Wizards.
When he was extended last week, Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld indicated there was a chance Blatche would be on the roster for next season, but the odds of that "seem remote," says Lee. The Wizards would almost certainly have to take on another bad contract and/or give up draft picks to find a trade partner, so using their amnesty provision on Blatche seems more likely. For his part, Blatche says he's ready for anything.
"I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but whatever is going to happen is going to happen for a reason," Blatche said. "If I come back, I’m more than happy to try to fight through this little hole I’m in. If I’m somewhere else, I’ll continue to try to get better."
Injuries and poor conditioning led to a terrible 2011/12 campaign for Blatche. According to Lee's sources, the 25-year-old's weight ballooned above 280 pounds at one point. In the 26 games he played, Blatche posted a 10.6 PER, well below the 15.9 career mark he'd recorded prior to this season. He has three years and $23MM+ remaining on his contract.
Southeast Notes: Wizards, Bobcats, Jones
The Heat appear well on their way to a 1-0 series lead on the Knicks, and tomorrow the Hawks get going against the Celtics. Tonight the Magic open their series with the Pacers. Perhaps Orlando, without Dwight Howard, can take a cue from assistant coach Patrick Ewing, whose Knicks were able to get to the Finals in 1999 despite his absence. Here's the rest of the buzz around the Southeast:
- Michael Lee of The Washington Post reports the Wizards aren't on the hook for any money to former coach Flip Saunders next season. While that might make it easier to dismiss current coach Randy Wittman, who has one more year on his deal, Wizards players would like to see him back, Lee writes.
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer examines how the Bobcats can take the first steps this offseason toward fulfilling owner Michael Jordan's goal of becoming a top-four team in the Eastern Conference.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel looks at how union executive committee member James Jones is dealing with the turmoil in the player's association while also getting ready for the playoffs with the Heat.
Prospect Profile: Andre Drummond
Perhaps no player on the draft board gives teams pause quite as much as Connecticut freshman center Andre Drummond. He has drawn praise for "other-worldly" talent, but has been called the kind of player whose high-risk, high-reward potential gets GMs fired whether they take him or not. His athletic gifts and rebounding prowess make some scouts drool, while his lack of offensive development and inability to lift his team depress his stock. The latest we hear from Chad Ford of ESPN.com has him going somewhere between third and fifth, with some teams ranking him second only to presumptive No. 1 pick Anthony Davis. No. 2 is where Draft Express has him in their mock draft and list of the top 100 prospects, so the media reflects the dichotomy of opinions that teams have.
A heralded prospect coming out of high school, Drummond was supposed to keep defending national champion Connecticut among the elite teams in college basketball. That didn't happen, as the Huskies struggled through the regular season and lost to Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Still, Drummond shouldn't bear the full brunt of the blame for his team's failure's, since UConn had to deal with the health problems of coach Jim Calhoun, uncertainty over their eligibility for next year's postseason because of academic shortfalls, and the loss of Kemba Walker, its best player from the year before.
Drummond averaged just 10.0 PPG, struggling in post-up situations, as Jonathan Givony of Draft Express notes, and settling too often for jump shots, in Ford's eyes. He still shot 53.8% from the floor. He averaged just 7.6 RPG, but 3.4 of them came on the offensive glass. The low numbers are partly attributable to playing just 28.4 MPG. That makes his 2.7 blocks every night that much more impressive. He's listed at either 6'10" or 6'11", but his wingspan is 7'5", according to ESPN.com.
Of the teams likely to draft between two and five, according to the Hoops Rumors draft order tracker, the Hornets seem to be the team most in need of frontcourt help, particularly if they fail to sign free agent center Chris Kaman. They might be more willing to wait for Drummond to develop and learn some offensive moves around the basket now that they have an owner in place. Drummond will be only 18 on draft night, and is the second youngest lottery prospect behind Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. If the Blazers wind up with the Nets' pick and Drummond's still around when they're drafting, don't be surprised if they take him, since they'll have plenty of free agent money to spend on immediate upgrades elsewhere. The Wizards seem least likely to take a flier on another underdeveloped big man, as they have Nene Hilario and Andray Blatche locked up long-term, and Washington fans are still haunted by JaVale McGee's inability to pick up on the game's nuances.
Patience will be key for whichever GM decides to draft him. The stats indicate he's just a one-way player right now, and that's a tough sell for struggling franchises looking for someone to help them turn it around.
John Wall On Wizards’ Season, Needs, Future
Although it was a disappointing overall season for the Wizards, the team ended on a high note, winning its final six games without compromising its lottery odds. As the season came to an end this week, John Wall spoke to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida and Michael Lee of the Washington Post about the year and what the future looks like for Wall and the Wizards. Here are a few of the highlights from the interviews:
On the Wizards' midseason roster upheaval:
"For some guys, it was contract year, wasn’t serious with the basketball as I think they should’ve been and with them being traded to veteran teams, it helped them. We didn’t have any veterans to get on them, they was the veterans. Now they are with veteran teams doing better and we’re doing better."
On the post-trade Wizards:
"This year, really, after the trade, it felt like it was my third year. It was a whole totally different team and we started playing totally different, to be honest. No disrespect to any guys we had before, but everything changed. We were more serious in the locker room, more serious on the court, unselfish play, everybody played together and just wanted to win."
On what the team needs to add:
"I think another veteran big man, another wing player and maybe a two guard. Another strong two guard. And that's it."
On the odds of eventually signing an extension with Washington:
"I like being here, but you let the future hold its own. When the time comes, you see what the best situation is for you."
Grunfeld Talks Contract Extension, Nene, Blatche
The Wizards announced this morning that they'd officially agreed to terms on an extension for team president Ernie Grunfeld, whose contract was set to expire at season's end. Grunfeld spoke to reporters today about his new deal and his plans for the team going forward. Here are a few highlights, courtesy of Michael Lee of the Washington Post:
- Asked if he felt he deserved a contract extension, Grunfeld said, "The important thing is [owner] Ted [Leonsis] felt that."
- The Wizards are in the second year of a three-year rebuild, and Grunfeld thinks the team is making good progress and has a "bright future."
- Washington doesn't figure to be an active player in free agency, since the team thinks of the acquisition of Nene as a sort of free agent signing: "Last summer he was the most sought-after free agent in the marketplace. We were able to get him via trade instead of having to play the free agent game and going out there not knowing for sure if you were going to get a player of his caliber. We played the free agent game, we just did it a little bit different. We are paying somebody a very nice salary."
- Grunfeld praised the job that coach Randy Wittman has done, pointing out that the players are playing "very hard" for him. However, he was noncommital on Wittman's future, saying he'd evaluate the situation with Leonsis after the season.
- Asked whether Andray Blatche had played his last game for the Wizards, Grunfeld replied, "No. Not necessarily. Players are always forgiven if they come back and perform well…. That remains to be seen. It’s going to be a process that we’ll monitor during the summer." Blatche is under contract for three more seasons, but is a candidate to be amnestied.
Grunfeld, Wizards Agree To Contract Extension
TUESDAY, 8:50am: The Wizards made it official today, announcing that Grunfeld and the team have agreed to terms on a contract extension. Team owner Ted Leonsis explained the decision in his blog this morning.
MONDAY, 7:28pm: The Wizards will retain team president Ernie Grunfeld, reports Michael Lee of the Washington Post. An official announcement may come as early as Tuesday. There's no word on the financial terms of his new deal, but it's believed to cover at least two seasons. Grunfeld's current contract is up at the end of this season.
The Wizards have gone 282-438 since 2003, when Grunfeld was put in charge by former owner Abe Pollin. Still, current owner Ted Leonsis likes what Grunfeld has done in acquiring cap space and draft picks while trading away unwanted high-priced talent in recent years, Lee writes. Grunfeld's current deal makes him one of the league's highest-paid executives, giving him somewhere between $3.5MM and $4.5MM a year. Teams have scaled back salaries for team presidents and general managers of late as a way to offset losses, so it's likely his new deal will be for less than what he was making.
Grunfeld's future has been in doubt, and we recently heard that one NBA executive told Lee he expected the team and Grunfeld to part ways soon. Last month a report suggested Grunfeld turned down a three-year, $4.5MM extension, but sources told Lee no such offer was made.
It's been a year of major moves for the rebuilding Wizards, who let Flip Saunders go after a 2-15 start and acquired Nene Hilario in a three-team deal that sent away Nick Young and JaVale McGee.
Odds & Ends: Evans, Lewis, McGee, Bradley
On this day in 1996, the Bulls defeated the Bullets 103-93 to finish the season with a 72-10 record, which eclipsed the 1972 Lakers‘ 69-13 mark. The W also earned Chicago their 33rd road victory, the most ever in a season by an NBA team. Here’s a look at today’s items from around the Association..
- Tyreke Evans‘ agent, Arn Tellem, was in town yesterday for a meeting with Kings president Geoff Petrie and management about his client, writes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. The two sides didn’t talk about a contract extension or a potential trade for Evans but did discuss where he stands with the team going forward.
- Wizards forward Rashard Lewis is a likely candidate to be bought out this summer, but the 32-year-old believes that he has plenty of basketball left in him, writes Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
- There are still times when JaVale McGee misses Washington, but the big man is happy to be with the Nuggets, writes Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post. McGee won’t say much about his impending free agency but says that he wouldn’t mind coming back to Denver.
- Avery Bradley has gone from question mark to future cornerstone for the Celtics’ long-term rebuilding project, writes Paul Flannery of WEEI.com.
Southeast Notes: Howard, Mason, Crawford
All five Southeast Division teams were in action tonight, and four of them won, including the Wizards, who stunned the Bulls. No such luck for the hapless Bobcats, however, as they lost their 17th straight. Here's the buzz around the Southeast:
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel proposes the Magic take the bold step of shutting down Dwight Howard for the rest of the season, playoffs included, to protect their best asset should they decide to trade him before his contract runs out after next season.
- Roger Mason underwent surgery to repair a broken left index finger today, and the Wizards waived him. Mason says he could have returned in a week's time, but would prefer to give his finger a little more time to heal, as Michael Lee's blog for The Washington Post explains.
- Jordan Crawford is the Wizards' leading scorer since the All-Star break, but he was disappointed the team benched him in favor of Nick Young earlier this season, writes Michael Lee of the Washington Post. With Young sent to the Clippers in a deadline deal, Crawford has a more positive opinion of what it's like to play in Washington despite the team's poor record, observes Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld.