NBA Chatter Thread

[Carp]

Knicks Will Not Take Boozer In Sign And Trade

July 1 at 11:39pm CDT By Zach Links


The Bulls might want to work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony, but they won’t be able to do it with Carlos Boozer, writes Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. Chicago would probably want to include Boozer, who has been mentioned as an amnesty candidate, in such a deal, but the Knicks aren’t interested in the veteran forward.

Of course, this is all somewhat premature since the Bulls have yet to reach out to New York about an S&T scenario. Still, it stands to reason that the Knicks would want to get something in return for Melo if he skips town.

Boozer is set to earn $16.8MM this season and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf is probably less than thrilled about the prospect of paying him for nothing. However, if he’s willing to go through with the amnesty clause, Broussard lays out some possibilities for the Bulls if they get Anthony to agree to sign. If the Bulls dump Boozer and trade away Mike Dunleavy for nothing, could start a four-year deal for Anthony at $15MM in the first year. If they moved Jimmy Butler as well, they could start Melo off at $17MM. Of course, that’s still less than the $22.4 million the Knicks can offer him next season.

 

[Carp]

Several Teams Interested In Isaiah Thomas

July 1 at 11:45pm CDT By Zach Links


11:45pm: Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops (on Twitter) adds the Lakers to the list of interested clubs.

8:35am: Kyle Lowry’s decision will likely precede the one that Thomas makes, Bleacher Report’s Jared Zwerling tweets. The Kings and Thomas have strong mutual respect, Zwerling says.

7:48am: The Pistons are also interested, tweets Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com. They’re talking about a deal in the ballpark of three years and $24MM total. Other talks are in the $6-7MM range, Bruski adds (Twitter link).

7:32am: The Lakers made contact with Thomas, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, as did the teams that Jones mentioned (Twitter link).

12:37am: The Celtics, Mavericks, Warriors, Heat, Pistons, and Suns have expressed interest in Kings free agent guard Isaiah Thomas, tweets Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. The Kings want to keep the diminutive point guard but they’ll have their work cut out for them this summer.

The Celtics were the first team on the horn with Thomas when free agency started after midnight ET and Danny Ainge personally made the call. This is purely speculative, but one has to imagine that the C’s are giving serious thought to trading Rajon Rondo given their pursuit of Thomas and selection of Marcus Smart in last week’s draft.

 

[Carp]

Nets, Cavs Discussing Thornton, Jack Trade?

July 1 at 8:14pm CDT By Charlie Adams


JULY 1ST, 8:14pm: The loss of Shaun Livingston is likely to resurrect the Thornton-for-Jack trade talks, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

JUNE 23RD, 8:01am: Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio is also hearing denials of Thornton-Jack talks, though Jack’s name has come up as the Cavs discuss potential trades with other teams, Amico says.

SATURDAY, 3:47pm: League sources deny that the Nets and Cavs have discussed a Thornton/Jack swap, tweets Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops.

2:36pm: The Nets and Cavs are discussing a trade that would center around Marcus Thornton and Jarrett Jack, reports Marc Stein of ESPN. Cleveland is interested in freeing up cap space by shedding Jack’s contract, which is guaranteed through 2015/16, in favor of Thornton’s expiring pact, says Stein, who adds that Brooklyn is among the few teams in the league undeterred from acquiring Jack’s extended deal.

Jack signed a $25MM contract with the Cavs last summer after a successful 2012/13 campaign in which he came off the bench behind Stephen Curry for the Warriors. His 2013/14 season was a disappointing one however, as the point guard shot just 41% from the floor and posted a career-low 11.5 PER.

Thornton was acquired by the Nets at last season’s trade deadline, and he proved to be a valuable asset for Brooklyn, averaging 12.3 points per night in just 23.8 minutes per contest. He’s set to enter free agency after the 2014/15 season.

According to Stein, the Nets fear they’ll lose free agent-to-be Shaun Livingston this offseason after a year in which the often-injured point guard exceeded expectations on a minimum-salary contract, and the club is looking to replace his production by acquiring Jack from the Cavs. Brooklyn, deep in the luxury tax, would only be able to offer Livingston a three-year deal in the neighborhood of $10MM using the taxpayers mid-level exception. The Timberwolves are one team rumored to be interested in Livingston that can make a more lucrative offer.

 

[Carp]

Bucks Shopping O.J. Mayo

July 1 at 8:10pm CDT By Zach Links


The Bucks are shopping O.J. Mayo, according to league sources that spoke with Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (on Twitter).

It was reported back in May that the Bucks would be willing to trade Mayo, but it was unclear at the time if they were actively shopping him. Now, we know that the Bucks would prefer to exchange the 26-year-old for something else.

Mayo, the former No. 3 overall pick, saw just 52 games of action (23 starts) in his first season with the Bucks, averaging 11.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, and 2.2 APG. While the injuries certainly weren’t Mayo’s fault, Milwaukee was obviously hoping for more out of the guard after inking him to a three-year, $24MM deal last summer.

 

[Carp]

Nuggets Have Mulled Trading McGee, Chandler

July 1 at 8:02pm CDT By Zach Links


The Nuggets have considered trading JaVale McGee and/or Wilson Chandler, league sources tell Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (via Twitter).

McGee, everyone’s favorite freakishly talented but sometimes absent-minded center, saw just five games of action this season. McGee fractured his left tibia in November and while Denver hoped to have him back on the floor at some point, a February surgery brought an end to his 2013/14 campaign. The big man averaged 9.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 2012/13 for Denver.

Chandler found himself mentioned on Hoops Rumors when things appeared to be getting hot and heavy on the Kevin Love front, but nothing came from those June talks. Today’s report from Kennedy would infer that Chandler can be had in deals that don’t involve the Wolves’ top talent.

 

[Carp]

ans Make Gordon, Evans, Others Available

July 1 at 7:58pm CDT By Zach Links


The Pelicans are making most of their roster available in trade talks, including Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans, tweets Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. It’s not clear exactly who is on the block and who isn’t, but I would surmise that the untouchables list includes 2012′s No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis. From the sound of it, there may not be many more that are safe.

Both guards have value from a talent perspective but their contracts could hinder the returns for New Orleans. Evans signed a four-year, $44MM pact with the Pelicans (via a sign-and-trade) roughly one year ago to this date. Gordon, meanwhile, is in the midst of a max deal with two years to go.

 

[Carp]

Pistons To Sign Jodie Meeks

July 1 at 4:32pm CDT By Chuck Myron


4:32pm: No options are involved as a part of the deal, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.

3:53pm: The Pistons and Jodie Meeks have agreed on a three-year deal for more than $19MM, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). The two-guard leaves the Lakers to fill a need in Detroit, which was woeful from behind the three-point arc last season, and he’ll receive a tidy raise for doing so after making just $1.55MM this past season in L.A.

It appears that Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy will use cap space on the maneuver, and the deal doesn’t bode well for the future of free agent guard Rodney Stuckey in Detroit. Meeks made a career-high 40.1% of his three-pointers this past season, though he’s only a 37.6% three-point shooter for his career. Still, that’s much better than Stuckey, who shot just 27.3% from behind the arc last season and carries a 28.6% mark in that category.

Meeks expressed desire to remain with the Lakers, and they were reportedly one of a number of teams making contact with him last night. The Pistons likely outbid others for the Andrew Vye client, who became the first free agent to agree to a deal in the 2014/15 season

 

[Deuce]

Gortat got 5 yr, $60M to stay with the Wiz.

 

[Carp]

Good move by the Wizards...they need Porter to step up or another player addition and they can move up in the east. They were fun to watch last year and Wittman impressed me.

 

[Deuce]

Pacers offered 5 years, $44M to Stephenson and he turned it down.

 

[Deuce]

Celtics resign Avery Bradley for 4 years, $32M.

FML

 

[Simpleton]

Jesus Christ that's a horrendous deal for Bradley.

As for Melo, I definitely think the Bulls are the front-runner if he leaves New York, and if he decides to go back to New York he's doing it literally just for the money and I'd rather not have someone like that in the first place. It would be truly ridiculous to me if he re-signed with the Knicks, that team is a complete graveyard and won't be in a position to win anything for at least 4-5 years barring a miracle.

 

[Deuce]

Jesus Christ that's a horrendous deal for Bradley.

As for Melo, I definitely think the Bulls are the front-runner if he leaves New York, and if he decides to go back to New York he's doing it literally just for the money and I'd rather not have someone like that in the first place. It would be truly ridiculous to me if he re-signed with the Knicks, that team is a complete graveyard and won't be in a position to win anything for at least 4-5 years barring a miracle.

I think they could build a competitive team around him quicker than that.

 

[Simpleton]

I think they could build a competitive team around him quicker than that.

So how long will it take them to build a team that can make the ECF?

3 years? 4?

Melo will be pushing 35 by that point.

 

[Deuce]

So how long will it take them to build a team that can make the ECF?

3 years? 4?

Melo will be pushing 35 by that point.

I think 3 years is realistic. But if building that team is important to him, he would want to hear every detail of that plan from Phil now. If it doesn't sound good, bolt. If money is all that matters, the decision is easy.

Me, personally, I don't think he cares about creating a great team and winning. He's just always come off as a selfish person and now this is his first chance at being a Free Agent. He's going to live it up and take all the attention before cashing in.

 

[1bigfan13]

OKC supposedly interested in Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, and Vince Carter.

We could probably afford Gasol by himself or a Miller/Carter combo but not all 3.

If we're able to land at least one of those guys I'd be happy.

 

[Carp]

Gasol would be so good there. You could really limit his minutes during the season, giving Adams more time and keep his development going. I'd love to see OKC do something better at the SG/SF spot though...not a big fan of Lamb and the lack of depth there really hurt them. Morrow, Miles, Granger...they need to do something there more than in the post IMO.

 

[Deuce]

The Cavs are preparing a max deal, roughly $15M a year, for Gordon Hayward. Nice player and he would compliment Irving and Wiggins well, but damn that's a lot for him.

 

[Rev]

Rockets displayed Carmelo Anthony in a number 7 Rockets jersey. Jeremy Lin currently wears #7 currently.



Writings on the wall Jeremy.

 

[Deuce]

Rockets displayed Carmelo Anthony in a number 7 Rockets jersey. Jeremy Lin currently wears #7 currently.



Writings on the wall Jeremy.

Who's going to take him? His contract is pretty bad.