Week in Review News & Rumors

The Pistons came into the season with high expectations but so far, they haven’t delivered.  Earlier today, Detroit canned coach Maurice Cheeks in hopes that they can improve upon their 21-29 mark.  As it stands, the Pistons are a half-game behind Charlotte for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.  Here’s more from around the Association..

• The Cavs fired GM Chris Grant and promoted David Griffin to the interim role.  Some candidates have emerged for the permanent job.
  
• Luol Deng is unlikely to re-sign with the Cavs.
• The Lakers and Suns have discussed Pau Gasol.
• The Knicks could fire Mike Woodson and his staff before the trade deadline.
• The Bucks are turning away suitors for Larry Sanders.
• The Bobcats and Mavs like Evan Turner.  So do the Suns, Clippers, and Hawks.  The 76ers are intensifying their push to move him.
• Adam Silver wants to raise the age limit to 20.
• The Pacers want bench scoring.
• Jason Smith is done for the year.
• The Kings are likely to be buyers at the deadline.
• Jared Dudley is on the block.
• The Grizzlies signed Darius Morris to a 10-day deal.
• The Clippers signed Sasha Vujacic.
• The Knicks seem to think that Rajon Rondo is more available than the Celtics are letting on.
• Jarvis Varnado is picking up NBA interest.
• John Jenkins is done for the year.
• The Pelicans signed Luke Babbitt.
• Metta World Peace was said to be unhappy in New York but he denied that later on.
• The Celtics inked Chris Johnson to a three-year pact.
• Solomon Jones entered the D-League pool.
• Ray Allen isn’t planning on retirement.
• Johan Petro is likely to sign in France.
• The Lakers brought Shawne Williams back on a 10-day deal.

The Wizards are high on Pistons big man Greg Monroe, but as it stands, he’s not going anywhere.  Detroit has informed clubs calling on Monroe that they won’t be trading him between now and the February deadline.  Here’s our look back at the week that was..

• Adam Silver officially took over as commissioner.  
  
• The Pacers signed Andrew Bynum to a $1MM deal for the rest of the season.  They swear it has nothing to do with keeping him away from the Heat.
• The Lakers, Wizards, and Bobcats have asked the Bulls about Taj Gibson.
• The Nets are eyeing Kevin Durant for 2016.
• Nate Robinson is done for the year.
• The Nuggets could activate trade candidate Andre Miller.
• Luol Deng was reportedly not happy to be traded to the Cavs, GM Chris Grant is expected to lose his job at the end of the year, and Kyrie Irving wants to go to the Knicks.  Yikes.
• For his part, Irving denies that he wants out of Cleveland.
• Danny Granger and C.J. Miles are drawing interest.
• The Rockets are shopping Francisco Garcia.
• Several GMs would be surprised if Rondo gets moved.  Meanwhile, the guard quickly cut off extension talks with the Celtics.  The Knicks still want him.
• Mark Tatum is the new deputy commissioner.
• The Pelicans inked Luke Babbitt to a two-year deal.
• Tyshawn Taylor was acquired by the Maine Red Claws.
• The Bobcats are expected to be buyers at the trade deadline.
• Emeka Okafor could be a trade chip for the Suns.
• The sense around the league is that the Raptors will keep Kyle Lowry according to one report while another says that they’re actively shopping him.
• Daequan Cook is headed to Germany.
• Dante Exum will enter the 2014 draft.
• The Suns signed Leandro Barbosa for the rest of the season.
• The Spurs signed Shannon Brown and released Othyus Jeffers.
• The Hawks signed Cartier Martin to a 10-day deal.
• Shawne Williams is headed to the D-League.
• Royal Ivey signed with the Guangdong Southern Tigers.
• The Celtics re-signed Chris Johnson.  They won’t re-up Vander Blue.
• The Hawks aren’t keeping James Nunnally.

It’s safe to say that the Wizards are happy with center Marcin Gortat.  After dealing for him prior to the start of the season, Washington is eager to lock him up to a brand new deal before he can hit the open market this summer.  For his part, the 30-year-old big man sounds like he’s happy in Washington.  Here’s more from the week that was..

• There’s mutual interest between Nikola Vucevic and the Magic in a new deal.
• The Celtics have talked about a new contract with Rajon Rondo.  Meanwhile, GM Danny Ainge isn’t exactly pushing interested teams away.
• Dirk Nowitzki says he’s likely to re-sign with the Mavs.
• Eric Bledsoe is hurt, but that won’t keep the Suns from matching any offer for the restricted free agent this summer.
• Ivan Johnson is a free agent and the Clippers could have interest.
• Marcus Thornton is still on the trade block.
• The Wizards are expected to go after Greg Monroe.
• The Bulls aren’t sure if they’ll amnesty Carlos Boozer.
• Beno Udrih backed off his trade request.
• Blazers brass will mull an extension for LaMarcus Aldridge after the season.
• Two NBA teams are keeping tabs on Mickael Pietrus.
• The Hawks and Bucks got the DPE.
• The Bucks reportedly won’t make a big February deal.
• The Sacramento arena plan cleared a significant hurdle.
• Danilo Gallinari is done for the year.
• Kris Humphries wants to stay with the Celtics.
• Some execs think Duke’s Jabari Parker won’t enter the 2014 draft.  Joel Embiid says he’s unsure too.
• The Pelicans would like to trade for a big man.
• The Pelicans waived Tyshawn Taylor shortly after acquiring him.  Meanwhile, the European player who came to the Nets in the deal won’t be coming over to the NBA.
• Shawne Williams is headed to the D-League.
• There are serious suitors interested in buying the Bucks.
• The Suns plan to keep Leandro Barbosa for the rest of the year.
• Team USA named their finalists.
• The Sixers re-signed Dewayne Dedmon.
• The Bulls re-upped Cartier Martin.
• The Hawks re-signed James Nunnally.
• The Jazz claimed Malcolm Thomas off waivers from the Spurs.
• The Spurs signed D-Leaguer Othyus Jeffers to a 10-day contract.
• The Celtics signed Vander Blue to a 10-day.
• The Bulls inked Mike James to a 10-day deal.
• Daniel Orton will join the Celtics’ D-League team.

This week, the Warriors, Celtics, and Heat joined up for a three team deal that sent Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks out west to Golden State.  The Warriors sent Toney Douglas to Miami in the deal while the heat shipped Joel Anthony, a first-round pick, and its 2016 second-round pick to the Celtics.  More from the week that was..

• Executives believe the Celtics will shop Rajon Rondo at the trade deadline or this summer.
• Dwight Howard says the Magic promised him that he would be traded to the Nets.  Whoops.
• The Clippers signed Hedo Turkoglu and released Maalik Wayns.
• The Rockets are likely to keep Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin through the year.
• The Knicks can’t see Carmelo Anthony going elsewhere.
• Jerryd Bayless wants to stay with the Celtics.
• The Heat won’t go after Andrew Bynum.
• Ryan Anderson is probably done for the season.
• Things between the Knicks and J.R. Smith are still messy.
• Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson are drawing trade interest from teams across the league.
• The Bulls and Nets will swap Marquis Teague for Tornike Shengelia.
• Leandro Barbosa got a second ten-day deal.
• Fab Melo is headed back to the D-League.
• Keith Bogans may or may not return to the Celtics.
• Rondo had a two-hour stint in the D-League.
• The Celtics signed Chris Johnson to a ten-day pact.
• The Hawks are among the clubs with interest in Ivan Johnson.
• The Lakers are giving Manny Harris a shot.
• The 76ers signed big man Dewayne Dedmon.
• The Clippers gave Darius Morris another ten-day pact.
• The Sixers are looking for first-round picks.
• Solomon Jones is headed to the D-League.
• Royal Ivey got a ten-day deal from the Thunder.

Early Tuesday morning, the Cavs and Bulls agreed to swap disgruntled big man Andrew Bynum for pending free agent Luol Deng.  With the deal, the Bulls got themselves a first-rounder and a pair of second-round choices and a whole lot of financial flexibility (Bynum was soon waived).  The Cavs, of course, get to wash their hands of a failed gamble and come away with an All-Star caliber small forward.  Here’s more from around the Association..

• The Grizzlies acquired Courtney Lee in a three-team deal that sent Jerryd Bayless to the Celtics.  Lee was a client of Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien and front office exec Stu Lash when they were agents.
• The Cavs hope to keep Deng long-term.
• Eight teams are interested in Bynum.
• The Pelicans have been active in their pursuit of a trade involving Eric Gordon and are exploring three-team scenarios as well.
• Eric Bledsoe is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery.
• There could be mutual interest between Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks.
• The Raptors could hang on to Kyle Lowry.
• The Kings’ insistence on Travis Outlaw being involved in an Andre Miller deal has slowed down talks between them and the Nuggets.
• Meanwhile, the Knicks have discussed Miller with the Nuggets but there have been no formal offers yet.
• Those rumored talks between the Nets and Rockets are probably dead thanks to Deron Williams‘ ankle issues.
• J.R. Smith is unsure of his future with the Knicks.  They’re currently trying to scare him straight with trade talk, but they know there’s not much of a market for him.
• The Rockets like Mike Dunleavy.
• Kirk Hinrich is drawing interest from the Warriors.
• The Bobcats are shopping Ben Gordon.
• The Clippers released Stephen Jackson.
• The Lakers released Shawne Williams.
• Mo Williams plans to opt out but hopes to re-sign.
• The Bucks are looking to move Gary Neal.
• The Hawks signed James Nunnally to a ten-day deal.
• The Bulls inked Cartier Martin to a ten-day after the Hawks dumped him.
• The Sixers waived Daniel Orton.
• The Celtics cut Ryan Gomes.
• Pierre Jackson has permission to seek a trade.
• The Rockets are trying to trade Donatas Motiejunas.
• The Jazz released Mike Harris.
• Chris Smith has joined the Erie BayHawks.
• The Clippers have given thought to Sasha Vujacic as well as Hedo Turkoglu.
• The NBA granted the Nets a DPE.
• The Clippers signed Darius Morris.
• The Suns brought Leandro Barbosa back with a ten-day pact.
• The Grizzlies said goodbye to Seth Curry.  They thought about re-signing him but opted against it.
• The Kings waived Hamady N’Diaye.
• The Clippers re-signed Maalik Wayns.
• Keyon Dooling retired.

It’s crunch time for the Cavs.  They’re armed with an unlikely trade chip in disgruntled big man Andrew Bynum, but they have to make a deal in advance of Tuesday’s contract guarantee deadline as teams that are interested in Bynum essentially want to acquire him so that they can dump him and his contract.  Talks with the Lakers continue on a deal centered on Bynum and Pau Gasol and Cleveland reportedly wants to get that deal done today.  There’s also been talk of a deal involving Jazz small forward Richard Jefferson, but that may not be in play any longer.  More from the week that was..

• Carmelo Anthony for Blake Griffin?  Guess not.
• The Magic finally said goodbye to Hedo Turkoglu.  The Lakers could be a suitor.  Orlando said no to trade proposals from L.A. and the Hawks before cutting the veteran.
• Tony Parker wants an extension with the Spurs.
• One league source says the Bulls want to trade Luol Deng and amnesty Carlos Boozer.
• The Magic waived Solomon Jones.
• The Clippers are looking outside the NBA for a point guard.  Delonte West and Bobby Brown are options for L.A.
• If the Nuggets move Andre Miller, it’ll probably be closer to the deadline.  The Nuggets slapped him with a suspension last week.  The Warriors and Kings are said to have interest.
• Kurt Thomas is considering an NBA return, but not with the Knicks.
• Jordan Crawford wants to stay with the Celtics.
• The Knicks signed Jeremy Tyler and kicked Chris Smith to the curb.  Smith is D-League bound.
• The Pelicans waived Lou Amundson.
• The Suns say they’ll do whatever it takes to keep Eric Bledsoe.
• Shabazz Muhammad is going to the D-League too.
• This Rajon Rondo guy might also make a D-League cameo on his way back.
• The Warriors waived Hilton Armstrong.
• The Al Horford injury could prompt the Hawks to make a deal.
• In addition to the Lakers, Knicks, and Nets, the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Celtics are among the teams that have inquired about a deal with the Raptors for Kyle Lowry.

The Cavs’ gamble on Andrew Bynum isn’t exactly paying off.  The big man started off the year by saying that he isn’t the same player that he used to be and it was evident in his output.  Lately, Bynum’s motivation has been called into question and the Cavs opted to suspend him indefinitely.  His suspension technically only held him out of Saturday’s game against the Celtics and he’ll continue to get paid, but he has been excused from all team activities until he’s released or traded.  Bynum reportedly wants to go to a contender and it seems possible that playing for a winner could restore his fire.  Here’s more from the week that was..

• The Nets’ patience with Jason Kidd is running low.
• The NBA might dump the ping pong balls for the wheel system.
• The Clippers are a possible suitor for Carmelo Anthony.
• The Knicks want to trade for Rajon Rondo.
• Even though Danny Ainge says the Celtics aren’t moving Rondo, not everyone is convinced.
• The Russell Westbrook injury could prompt a roster move.
• Several teams like Luol Deng.
• The Blazers and Bulls discussed a swap of Joakim Noah and LaMarcus Aldridge.
• The Knicks are talking about signing Jeremy Tyler.
• The Bucks are open to moving Larry Sanders.
• The Knicks could cut Chris Smith to free up a roster spot, rather than Cole Aldrich.
• The Pelicans may trade the rights to Pierre Jackson.
• The Grizzlies offered Jerryd Bayless to the Lakers in return for Jodie Meeks.
• Gilbert Arenas is trying to make a comeback.
• Thaddeus Young made a soft trade request.
• Nets GM Billy King says he won’t blow it up.
• The Grizzlies want to trade for a wing.
• The Knicks’ talks for Kyle Lowry are dead.
• Knicks owner James Dolan told his club there won’t be any major changes, including coaching decisions, but that may not be the case.
• Carlos Morais is playing back in his native Angola.

Could this year get any worse for the Nets?  Yesterday, we learned that Brook Lopez is done for the year after breaking his right foot – again.  It’s the second lost season in three years for the Nets’ big man and barring a creative move, it’s hard to see Brooklyn climbing out of their current hole.  More from the week that was..

• After all of that, the Rockets say that they didn’t get a deal good enough to pry away Omer Asik by their self-imposed deadline.  The Sixers and Celtics were both linked to the disgruntled big man.
• The Nets will explore a Disabled Player Exception to replace Lopez.
• The Bulls want to hang on to Luol Deng.
• The Rockets and Nets discussed Asik and Jeremy Lin.
• The Celtics aren’t interested in a Rajon Rondo trade.
• Thaddeus Young denies requesting a trade.
• The Pacers are open to trade offers for Danny Granger.
• The Lakers aren’t seeking a Pau Gasol deal.
• The Lakers signed Kendall Marshall.
• Dion Waiters wants out of Cleveland.
• Metta World Peace wants to play five more seasons.
• The Raptors are working to move DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.
• Jeff Taylor is also done for the year.
• The Pelicans signed Alexis Ajinca.
• The Sixers might consider moving to Newark, New Jersey.
• The Grizzlies signed James Johnson.
• Wesley Johnson hopes to stick around in L.A.
• The Knicks are still expected to re-sign Jeremy Tyler.
• The Bulls said deuces to Mike James.
• The Grizzlies will sign Seth Curry.
• Chris Smith thinks his spot on the Knicks’ roster is safe.  Why wouldn’t he?  He earned it.

Kyle Lowry was set to be shipped to the Knicks and then all of a sudden, he wasn’t.  After the Knicks and Raptors shook hands on a deal that would have brought the guard to New York, owner James Dolan reportedly put the kibosh on the deal.  It’s believed that Dolan vetoed the deal in part because he doesn’t want to get burned by Masai Ujiri for a second time after he already gave away a boatload of talent to acquire Carmelo Anthony from Denver.  More from the week that was..

• The Kings officially acquired Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray, and Quincy Acy from the Raptors for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson, and Chuck Hayes.  No word yet on whether Rudy will allow stat sheets in the Sacramento locker room.
• Derrick Rose has told some confidantes that he’s concerned about the Bulls potentially losing key players in free agency.
• The Cavs may or may not be a suitor for Rockets center Omer Asik, depending on who you ask.  Houston plans to move the big man this week.
• The Nets also like Lowry but they’ll only go so far to get him.
• The Knicks would prefer to keep Iman Shumpert out of a deal for Lowry for the purpose of including him in a future trade and perhaps packaging him with Amar’e Stoudemire.
• The Bulls met with Nikola Mirotic.
• The Suns are willing to trade their 2014 picks for a star.
• The Lakers are open to re-signing Pau Gasol but are reportedly fielding offers for him.
• The Pelicans have released swingman Josh Childress.
• Carmelo is allegedly the only Knick off-limits in a trade.
• The Clippers signed Stephen Jackson.
• Gilbert Arenas is aiming for a 2014 comeback.  Insert gun joke here.
• The Bulls signed D.J. Augustin after he was waived by the Raptors.
• The Knicks might make a run at Tom Thibodeau.
• Jason Collins doesn’t believe that he’s being discriminated against for his sexual orientation.
• The Grizzlies are shopping Zach Randolph with Ryan Anderson of the Pelicans as the primary target, though that report has been disputed by others.
• Jason Thompson is on the block in Sacramento.
• The Thunder are willing to trade Jeremy Lamb.
• Cavs owner Dan Gilbert wants to keep Dion Waiters.
• The Bobcats signed Chris Douglas-Roberts.  They waived James Southerland to make room.
• The Grizzlies are looking for a long-term pickup rather than a short-term fix.
• Jonas Valanciunas is the Raptor least likely to be traded, but even he isn’t entirely off-limits.
• Elias Harris is headed to Germany.
• The Warriors signed big man HIlton Armstrong.
• The Lakers will target Leandro Barbosa and other point guards.

This week, we heard a piece of good news for Knicks fans and possibly bad news for Celtics fans.  Carmelo Anthony is trying to woo Rajon Rondo to the Knicks in advance of the summer of 2015, according to his old AAU coach.  Melo denied the report, but if it’s true, it could be a sign that the Knicks star is planning to stay in NYC beyond this summer.  More from the week that was in basketball..

• The Sixers, Hawks, and Bucks are in the mix for disgruntled Houston big man Omer Asik.
• The Rockets have lowered their demands somewhat and are looking for just one first rounder along with a good young player.
• The Knicks won’t trade Melo.
• Steve Nash acknowledged that he might not be able to play again.
• A report said that Carmelo has already made up his mind, but he says that’s not true.
• The Heat would like to make a deal and are shopping Joel Anthony.
• The Kings and Raptors may have discussed Jimmer Fredette, depending on who you ask.
• Derrick Rose won’t rule out a return in the postseason.
• Rondo doesn’t appear close to returning just yet.
• Knicks GM Steve Mills has been citing Mike Woodson‘s coaching as a reason why Iman Shumpert has struggled this season.
• Injuries may force the Clippers to make a signing.
• Warriors GM Bob Myers wants to see his team at full strength before making a move.
• In advance of hitting the open market, Pau Gasol says he will prioritize winning.
• The Warriors waived Dewayne Dedmon.
• Jeff Van Gundy shrugged off speculation that could return to the sidelines in New York.
• The Knicks might be considering Allan Houston, however.
• The Spurs signed Malcolm Thomas.
• MarShon Brooks hasn’t requested a trade.
• Charlie Westbrook is headed to the D-League.
• Kendall Marshall is also going to the D-League.
• Royce White is getting NBA interest.
• Dante Exum is meeting with agents.