Week in Review News & Rumors

What a week it was in the NBA. The 2014 NBA Draft is officially in the books. When the dust settled and the last pick was made, there were a lot less trades than anticipated, Andrew Wiggins was the top pick, Joel Embiid didn’t fall out of the top three as rumored, and the talk of the Sixers tanking in 2014/15 began anew. Here’s more from the week that was..

• Baylor center Isaiah Austin was diagnosed with a career-ending condition.
• Francisco Garcia opted out of his deal with the Rockets.
• The Mavericks plan to make a push to sign Pau Gasol.
• As expected, Carmelo Anthony opted out of his deal with the Knicks, becoming an unrestricted free agent.
• Darrell Arthur opted in and will remain with the Nuggets next season.
• Also returning to the Nuggets after opting in, was Nate Robinson.
• The Knicks strongly considered trading Iman Shumpert for a first round draft choice.
• Channing Frye opted out of his deal with the Suns.
• Mo Williams opted out of his deal with the Blazers to become an unrestricted free agent.
• Tim Duncan will be returning for another season with the Spurs after he opted in on his deal.
• The Lakers intend to make a run at unrestricted free agent Kyle Lowry.
• Andrei Kirilenko decided to opt in for next season with the Nets.
• In what is sure to be one of the bigger offseason storylines, LeBron James opted out of his deal with the Heat, becoming a free agent.
• Byron Scott became the frontrunner to become the Lakers next head coach.
• The Grizzlies interviewed four candidates for their GM-in-waiting position.
• Alan Anderson opted out of his deal with the Nets.
• The Kings have extended a qualifying offer to Isaiah Thomas, making him a restricted free agent.
• Jonas Jerebko opted in to remain with the Pistons.
• Kevin Garnett is planning to return to the Nets for the 2014/15 season.
• The Lakers‘ Nick Young opted out of his deal and became a free agent.
• The Knicks traded Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Mavericks for Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, Samuel Dalembert, Wayne Ellington, and two second round draft picks.
• The Cavaliers made Tyronn Lue the highest paid assistant coach ever.
• Dario Saric announced he’d stay out of the NBA for two more seasons. Saric wound up going to the Sixers on draft night.
• The Rockets agreed to trade Omer Asik to the Pelicans for a a protected 2015 first round pick.
• The Jazz extended a qualifying offer to Gordon Hayward, making him a restricted free agent.
• Rudy Gay opted in to remain with the Kings.
• The Hornets were shopping Gerald Henderson.
• The Trail Blazers offered LaMarcus Aldridge a max-level contract extension.
• The Sixers purchased the Spurs No. 58 overall pick for cash, and selected Jordan McRae.
• The Magic traded Elfrid Payton to the Sixers for Dario Saric, a 2015 second-round pick, and the 2017 first-round pick that Philadelphia originally sent to the Magic in the Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum trade.
• The Bulls traded their No. 16 and No. 19 selections to the Nuggets for the 11th overall pick, Doug McDermott, along with Anthony Randolph.
• The Warriors are willing to acquire Jeremy Lin from the Rockets.
• The Hornets struck a deal to send 45th overall pick Dwight Powell and Brendan Haywood to the Cavs for Alonzo Gee.
• The Timberwolves traded the 44th pick to the Nets for cash, and the Nets used the pick to select Oklahoma State shooting guard Markel Brown.
• The Wolves also traded the No. 53 pick to the Rockets in exchange for cash.
• The Knicks bought the 57th overall pick from the Pacers, and used it to select Louis Labeyrie.
• The Thunder purchased the 55th overall pick from the Hornets, and used it to select Semaj Christon.
• The Heat traded the 26th and 55th selections in this year’s draft, a 2019 second-rounder and cash to the Hornets for their 24th pick, which Miami used to select Shabazz Napier.
• The Spurs acquired the rights to No. 54 overall pick Nemanja Dangubic from the Sixers, in exchange for the 58th and 60th picks in this year’s draft.
• The Bucks traded the 48th pick to the Hawks for a 2015 second-round pick.
• The Nuggets acquired Arron Afflalo from the Magic for Evan Fournier and the No. 56 pick in this year’s draft.
• The Lakers purchased the 46th pick from the Wizards and used it to select Missouri guard Jordan Clarkson.
• The Grizzlies and Zach Randolph struck a deal on a two-year, $20MM contract extension.
• The Grizzlies acquired the Jazz‘s 35th overall pick Jarnell Stokes for a 2016 second-round pick.
• The Nets made deals to acquire No. 59 overall pick Xavier Thames from the Raptors and No. 60 overall pick Cory Jefferson from the Sixers.
• The Wizards will retain Andre Miller for next season.
• Martell Webster is expected to miss three to five months after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disk in his lower back,
• The Suns tendered qualifying offers to Eric Bledsoe and P.J. Tucker, making them restricted free agents.
• The Sixers sent 47th overall pick Russ Smith to the Pelicans in exchange for the rights to Pierre Jackson, last year’s No. 42 pick.
• Sixers big man Byron Mullens turned down his minimum salary player option for next season and will become a free agent.
• Udonis Haslem opted out of his deal with the Heat.
• The Lakers chose not to extend a qualifying offer to Kent Bazemore.
• Dwyane Wade opted out of his contract with the Heat.
• The Rockets declined their team option for Chandler Parsons, making him a restricted free agent.
• The Clippers intend to waive Willie Green.
• The Raptors extended qualifying offers to Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, and Nando De Colo, making all three restricted free agents.
• The Kings released Willie Reed.
• Jason Kidd was denied more power in the Nets organization and is exploring a move to the Bucks.

Tough break for Kansas center Joel Embiid.  The center, viewed by some as the best talent in the 2014 draft, broke the navicular bone in his right foot and while he could be healed up in as little as four months, it seems a lot less likely that he’ll be the No. 1 overall pick in this week’s draft.  There should be plenty of fallout from the news and the Magic are apparently eyeing a trade up to the top two to make sure they can land Dante Exum.  Here’s more from the week that was..

• David Blatt will be the next coach of the Cavaliers.
• The Bulls are in the lead for Carmelo Anthony, who is opting out.
• The Grizzlies and Zach Randolph seem close to a deal that would keep the power forward in Memphis for the next several seasons.
• The Sixers are considering Embiid.
• Rudy Gay will opt in with the Kings.
• The Mavs plan to go after Pau Gasol.
• The Warriors are reportedly in the lead in the Kevin Love sweepstakes.  Klay Thompson may or may not be available in such a deal, depending on who you ask.  Talks appear to be at an impasse currently.
• The Bulls are pursuing Arron Afflalo.
• The Bulls are willing to trade Joakim Noah.
• The Celtics are dangling the sixth and 17th picks, future first-rounders and young players in their attempt to trade for Love, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford.
• The Rockets have deals in place to move Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik.
• The Sixers are high on Andrew Wiggins.
• The 76ers are in talks to add another top ten pick.
• It sounds like LeBron James will stay put but it’s also likely that he’ll opt out.
• The Grizzlies and others have an eye on Sebastian Telfair.
• Alec Burks is available as the Jazz look to move up in the draft.
• The Clippers did some shuffling and hired Dave Wohl as GM.  It sounds like Doc Rivers will still get final say, however.
• There’s mutual interest between the Knicks and Patty Mills.
• Suns big man Channing Frye will probably opt out.
• There’s mutual interest between the Heat and Kyle Lowry.
• Chris Wallace will remain as the Grizzlies‘ GM.
• The Mavs will go after Chris Andersen.
• Shane Battier retired.
• Glen Davis and Danny Granger are set to opt out of their contracts with the Clippers and become free agents next month.
• The Nets and the Cavs may or may not be discussing a swap of Marcus Thornton and Jarrett Jack.
• Francisco Garcia will opt out.
• The Knicks have just $1.8MM to offer in a trade.
• Josh McRoberts will opt out of his deal with the Hornets.
• The Warriors are dangling Harrison Barnes in trade talks as they attempt to trade for a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
• Isaiah Austin has been diagnosed with a career-ending condition.
• Anthony Morrow will opt out.
• Andrea Bargnani is opting in with the Knicks.
• Alvin Gentry will join the Warriors as an assistant.
• We had a few flip-flops on draft decision day.
• The Grizzlies gave the Nuggets cash rather than forking over a pick.

There was talk this offseason that Carmelo Anthony could opt in to his deal with the Knicks rather than test the open market, but reports this week indicated that he plans to opt out and is leaning toward leaving New York.  The All-Star forward is said to have his eye on the Bulls and Rockets and Phil Jackson & Co. are having their doubts about his commitment to the blue-and-orange.  Here’s this week’s look back at the NBA:

• The Cavs offered the job of president and coach to John Calipari.  Cal was said to be tempted but ultimately inked a lucrative new deal with Kentucky.
• It’s official: the Knicks have hired Derek Fisher as head coach.
• The Heat have their eye on Carmelo Anthony, but Chris Bosh has downplayed such talk.
• Meanwhile, the Knicks are trying to sell Melo on the idea that they could make a play for LeBron in 2015.
• The outcome of the Finals reportedly won’t affect LeBron James‘ decision to stay or go.
• Rod Higgins resigned from the Hornets.
• It doesn’t sound like the Wolves will be able to hang on to Kevin Love.
• There may be mutual interest between the Pelicans and Andray Blatche.
• Joel Anthony will opt in with the Celtics.
• The Lakers have identified Kurt Rambis, Alvin Gentry, and Byron Scott as the primary candidates in their search for a head coach.  Scott had a second interview with the Lakers.
• Sixers swingman Jason Richardson has opted in to the final year of his contract.
• The Kings have discussed trading the No. 8 pick to the Hawks and they might have interest in Bucks big man Larry Sanders.
• Manu Ginobili wants to keep playing.
• As expected, Amar’e Stoudemire declined his early termination option.
• The Cavs have interest in Mark Jackson.
• It sounds like the Cavs and Lakers are interested in Nate McMillan.
• The Mavericks have exercised their team option on Jae Crowder.
• The Cavs will talk with Mark Price.
• A report indicated that Mikhail Prokhorov is listening to offers to sell the Nets.
• Tyronn Lue got a second interview with the Cavs.
• The NBA is getting ready to countersue Donald Sterling.
• The Heat are likely to sign 2013 second-round pick James Ennis.
• The Pacers, Raptors, Jazz and Cavs are among several NBA teams considering Spanish league power forward Damjan Rudez.
• The Jazz will have a one-to-one affiliation with the D-League’s Idaho Stampede.
• The Cavs will interview David Blatt.  The Warriors are the only other team left in the race.

Here’s our look back at the week that was..

• The Jazz will make Quin Snyder their next head coach.
• If you want something done right, do it yourself.  After he couldn’t woo Jeff Van Gundy, Flip Saunders appointed himself head coach in Minnesota.
• The Lakers won’t pursue Derek Fisher.  Meanwhile, he sounds like the frontrunner for the Knicks job.
• The Wolves don’t see the Celtics as the right partner in a Kevin Love trade.  The Kings could be the frontrunners.
• The Cavs will offer Kyrie Irving a max extension.
• The Nuggets are shopping the No. 11 pick.
• The Pistons have officially hired Jeff Bower as GM.
• The Cavs have had “exploratory” trade discussions involving Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters with another team in the lottery that’s looking to move up.
• Donald Sterling has agreed to sell the Clippers.
• Arron Afflalo wouldn’t mind a trade.
• The Wizards gave coach Randy Wittman a new deal.
• The Thunder have promised Latvian power forward Kristaps Porzingis that they’ll draft him in the first round.
• The Rockets will likely decline Chandler Parsons‘ option.
• Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Joakim Noah, Chris Paul and James Harden make up the All-NBA First Team.
• Larry Brown doesn’t want the Lakers job.
• Joakim Noah leads the NBA All-Defensive team.
• Alvin Gentry, who was a finalist for the job in Utah, got another interview with the Cavs.
• The Knicks want a first round pick.
• The Cavs will consider Maccabi Tel Aviv coach David Blatt for their head coaching job.
• European big man Walter Tavares is working on a contract buyout with his team in the Spanish ACB League.

Last week, Steve Ballmer secured a deal to buy the Clippers for $2 billion.  That’s right; apparently the estimations of a $1 billion sale were way too conservative.  More from the week that was..

• After a week full of drama, the Grizzlies signed coach Dave Joerger to an extension.
• Chris Bosh says he wants to stay with the Heat and may be willing to take a discount.
• Sixers management has considered moving Michael Carter-Williams and they’re high on Dante Exum.
• The Kings want Kevin Love, even without assurance that he’ll re-sign.  Meanwhile, the Wolves would probably only be interested if they feel confident that Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh will be available at No. 8.
• The Pacers will bring back Frank Vogel.
• Carmelo Anthony is thinking about opting in.
• The Grizzlies and Zach Randolph are talking extension.
• Donald Sterling is suing the NBA for $1 billion.
• Lionel Hollins would be willing to take the Wolves’ head coaching job regardless of whether the team is able to keep Kevin Love.
• The Jazz have interest in Tyler Honeycutt.
• There are many in the Pacers’ front office that are wary of giving a lucrative long-term deal to Lance Stephenson.
• The Cavs would improve their chances of retaining Luol Deng if they hired Bulls assistant Adrian Griffin as head coach.
• The Wizards are a “stealth candidate” for Love.
• The Jazz and Warriors like James Nunnally.
• Quin Snyder is a leading candidate for the Jazz job.  Both he and Adrian Griffin got second interviews.
• Jonas Jerebko will opt in and stay with the Pistons.
• The Nets will work out Ivan Johnson and others.
• Anthony Morrow will opt out and hit free agency.
• Darren Collison will opt out and test the open market.
• Vinny Del Negro interviewed with the Wolves.
• The Wizards carved out a three-year deal for coach Randy Wittman.
• The Bulls, Warriors, and Nets like Toure’ Murry.
• The Lakers met with Hollins on Thursday.
• The Lakers also met with Kurt Rambis.
• Tornike Shengelia is headed to Spain.
• Jason Kapono has retired.