NBA FanHouse

Warriors Trade Stephen Jackson to Bobcats for Bell, Radmanovic

Matt Steinmetz — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Warriors, NBA Transactions

The Golden State Warriors no longer have a Stephen Jackson problem. He's Larry Brown's issue now.

The Warriors and Bobcats reached agreement Monday morning on a trade that will send Jackson and Acie Law to Charlotte for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic. Jackson had made it clear late in the summer that he "was looking to leave" the Warriors and hadn't relented on that theme through the early regular season.

The Bobcats weren't on Jackson's original "wish list" of teams, however, his agent, Mark Stevens had said about a week ago that his client would be willing to play for any team if it meant getting out of Golden State.

The Warriors and Bobcats had talked about numerous scenarios over the past few weeks. The Warriors had wanted Boris Diaw as part of the deal, but Charlotte didn't want to give up the versatile forward. The Bobcats had wanted to include center Nazr Mohammed, but Golden State had little interest in him.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had been the favorites in acquiring Jackson, but that apparently changed in recent weeks. It was widely reported the Warriors wanted to acquire Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and his expiring contract, for Jackson but the Cavaliers were unwilling to do that.

The Warriors had been very interested in acquiring second-year power forward J.J. Hickson from the Cavaliers, but in recent games Hickson has emerged, making Cleveland less likely to part with him.

It remains to be seen if Charlotte will keep Jackson or look to move him. The Bobcats now find themselves with three versatile swingmen -- Gerald Wallace, Boris Diaw and Jackson.

Perhaps the best part of the trade from the Warriors' perspective is that it saves them approximately $20 million.

Bell is on the final year of his contract, and Radmanovic's contract runs through 2010-11 (assuming he doesn't exercise his early termination).

Jackson, on the other hand, has three-plus years remaining on his deal, and is owed upwards of $28 million after this season ends. Jackson signed a contract extension with the Warriors less than a year ago, and it runs through 2013.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Warriors Trade Stephen Jackson to Bobcats for Bell, Radmanovic originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grizzlies Sign Troubled Point Guard Jamaal Tinsley

Matt Moore — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:50:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Transactions

After building a rising core of young players featuring Marc Gasol (arguably their best all-around player at this point), O.J. Mayo (arguably their best scoring player at this point) and Rudy Gay (arguably ... Rudy Gay), the Memphis Grizzlies followed that up by trading for the untradeable Zach Randolph, drafting the undraftable Hasheem Thabeet, and signing the unsignable Allen Iverson. It's pretty much been advanced anti-fan warfare against the seventeen fans they have left.

And the hits just keep on comin'.

The Grizzlies signed Jamaal Tinsley, the former Indiana point guard who hasn't played in nearly two years and was literally told to stay away from the Pacers. He was presumably signed by Memphis to replace Allen Iverson, who is dealing with a personal issue after riling against his bench role.

You know that part in Con Air where Steve Buscemi explains the definition of irony? This is a lot like that. Mostly because the Grizzlies and a plane crash are eerily similar.

Okay, so I could feed you how the 31 year-old Tinsley could help the Grizzlies with their offense, being more of a creator than anyone they have on their team. Of course, that discounts the fact that they've already committed to Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo. I could also mention how Tinsley's probably learned his lesson from the ordeal in Indiana. But then, that discounts how no one else was willing to take a flier on Tinsley after his contract was bought out in July.

Thing is, there are lots of situations where Tinsley could fit in beside capable veterans who are committed to winning and redeem his career. I mean, we're not talking Stephon Marbury here. And hey, in Memphis the only things missing are the capable veterans, commitment to winning, and career redemption.

Let the good times roll. Or, whatever these are.

Grizzlies Sign Troubled Point Guard Jamaal Tinsley originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kings Swap Out Mason for Ime Udoka

Tom Ziller — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, NBA Injuries, NBA Police Blotter, NBA Transactions

The Kings, seeking a defensive veteran for the small forward position, took on Desmond Mason in advance of training camp. That didn't turn out so well: Mason has been beyond awful on offense (surprising no one who has watched Mason play at any point over the past four years) and didn't make much of a difference for the league's 29th ranked defense.

Five games was enough for the Sacramento front office, as the team waived Mason a day after signing former Blazer and Spur Ime Udoka to a non-guaranteed minimum salary contract. Like Mason, Udoka is known for his defensive skill, having been signed as a sort of Bruce Bowen replacement two summers ago. That didn't really work out, and Udoka was left teamless for opening day after Portland waived the swingman at the end of the preseason.

Mason started Sacramento's first four games before Paul Westphal elevated Andres Nocioni to the spot Wednesday. Nocioni has created another problem: the Argentine veteran was arrested on suspicion of DUI in downtown Sacramento early Thursday morning. He has a court date Monday, and can expect a compulsory two-game suspension by the NBA at some point in the future (though potentially not until the start of next season).

Udoka is a year younger than Mason, which is to say Udoka is still a bit too old for the tastes of this Kings fan. The Kings boast a young roster, with three starters and five rotation players under the age of 23. Team star Kevin Martin is only 26, and Nocioni is the elder statesman of the starting five at 29.

Udoka does have a solid defensive reputation, and in his best pro season (2006-07 with Portland) he shot well from the corners. Martin (who was found to have a hairline fracture in his non-shooting wrist today, and as such could miss a few weeks) has really stepped up his defense this season, but the Kings continue to allow easy shots in the paint and too many open threes. Hopefully Udoka can help there.

Kings Swap Out Mason for Ime Udoka originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blazers Reportedly Lock Up Aldridge

Matt Moore — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Trail Blazers, NBA Transactions

The operative phrase here is "with plenty of time to spare."

The Blazers and LaMarcus Aldridge had been working on an extension, the second of the big two the Blazers needed to lock up to ensure stability in their young, contending core (the other being Brandon Roy). The two had until October 31st to get a deal done in order to avoid Aldridge becoming a restricted agent next summer.

There had been rumors that Aldridge was unhappy about how long it was taking, given the Blazers' hyper-eager approach to Roy's five-year, $80 million deal. With Oct. 31 just 10 days away, the clock was ticking. Both sides were confident a deal would get done, but you couldn't blame Blazers fans for getting nervous.

Well, it's Miller time, baby. Not ... Andre Miller ... like the beer ... because Aldridge has a deal, according to ESPN. That snappy wrap-up did not go as well as I planned. Let's move on.

Chad Ford at the four-letter fleet is reporting it's a 5-year, $70 million deal, with incentives to push it to $80 million. Now comes the fun part, trying to figure out if Aldridge is underpaid, overpaid, or paid precisely what he's worth. One comparison would be Joe Johnson's last deal with Atlanta, which was same years, same money. Steve Nash's first contract with Phoenix was five years, $65 million. Blazers Edge reports the deal puts it at about 90% of the max.

An outstanding characteristic of Aldridge is his talent level. He's just a talented power forward. Tall guys that can shoot from range tend to be pretty valuable in the NBA. But you have to think much of this extension is also based on what the Blazers expect from him. And that's got to be something which isn't talent-based, but work-ethic related.

When I broke down an average night from Aldridge last season, I commented on how active he was on defense, but how he didn't commit to the most difficult tasks. He's got to commit to rebounding and his down-low game for the Blazers to reach the elite. Even with Greg Oden, Aldridge needs to be a physical force. Nothing dominant, just an improvement. Considering how far Aldridge has come from where he was coming out of Texas, this is well within reason.

The preseason started rocky for the Blazers, what with Andre Miller's stress over starting and all, but getting Aldridge inked puts them back on track. The Blazers are being careful with what they commit to long-term, and are locking up the sure things on their team. And they're sure Aldridge has the talent to be a star on a championship team.

Blazers Reportedly Lock Up Aldridge originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rockets Sign GM Daryl Morey to Two-Year Extension

Matt Moore — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:22:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, NBA Transactions

The biggest free agent on the market this year just got inked. Kind of. Though he wasn't going anywhere, Daryl Morey's been working without a contract since the end of last season. And today, the Houston Chronicle reports, the Rockets have finalized a deal that will keep him with the team through 2013.

So given the new timeline for Morey and his prior success, what are the odds Morey nabs an Executive of the Year award by the time his next contract is up?

Everyone has written off the Rockets this season, just as soon as Yao Ming was reported to miss the majority, if not all, of the season. "Oh, well. That's too bad. Better luck next time." But a closer examination of Morey's brief tenure with the Rockets proves that many of the teams that he's put on the floor have vastly outperformed expectations. So what leads us to believe that yet again, the consensus that sides against Morey's chances are right again?

Two years ago, when Yao went down, everyone wrote off the Rockets. This was before they rattled off one of the longest winning streaks in league history. Last year, there were rampant concerns about Ron Artest being a force that tore them apart. Instead, he helped them get past the first round for the first time in years. (Sorry, T-Mac.)

This year, losing Yao and Artest is supposed to be the death knell. But the real core of this team is made of players who no one else believed in except Morey, and who have thrived in Houston. Aaron Brooks? Spent time in the D-League his rookie year, and was supposed to be too small to play in the league. Luis Scola? The Spurs gave him away for next to nothing, one of the rare mistakes for the Buford-Popovich regime in San Antonio. Chuck Hayes was a never-was whose defense was a pivotal component of the Rockets' playoff run last season.

And after Yao went down in the Rockets' second round series versus the Spurs, people assumed the Lakers would make quick work of them. Instead, the Rockets ran up 30-plus point leads in pushing LA to seven games, without their best player.

This extension may be perceived as a short-term reward for their recent success, but the real question is this: What does Morey do with a blank canvas? Since he arrived, he's been handcuffed by the traditional model of the franchise, with two huge megastars absorbing most of the cap space. Now certainly, those players have helped, being two of the top players in the league (debatable in McGrady's case). But 2011-2013 will provide Morey and opportunity to start from scratch, using his advanced metrics approach to build a team completely in his and Aldeman (or whoever is coaching at that point) image.

Opinions on GMs shift rapidly in the NBA (Danny Ainge was a boob before winning Executive of the Year, Joe Dumars was considered brilliant for years), but at this point, Morey certainly seems to be the future.

Rockets Sign GM Daryl Morey to Two-Year Extension originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why Nate Robinson Can Veto Trades

Tom Ziller — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, NBA Transactions

Nate Robinson will remain a Knick, reports Alan Hahn of Newsday, and this is hardly a surprise. Robinson's agent Aaron Goodwin told FanHouse last week that the guard would certainly be in Knickerbocker blue next season. Hahn reports Nate will sign a one-year deal at some amount above the $3 million qualifying offer which has been on the table since July 1. Fellow restricted free agent David Lee is expected to follow with a similar deal.

One item that might get some attention in the coming days is that Robinson can veto any trade involving him this season. No-trade clauses in the NBA are extremely rare -- only Kobe Bryant has a full-blown no-trade negotiated into his contract. But Nate isn't unique, and this clause hasn't been specially negotiated into his contract. All restricted free agents who sign a one-year contract with their incumbent teams (qualifying offer or otherwise) receive the same veto power.

Raymond Felton won this veto power when he signed (or when he signs) Charlotte's $5.5 million qualifying offer. Devean George had this right when he vetoed a trade to New Jersey -- a trade, I might add, in which he was a completely ancillary part of the equation, what with Jason Kidd and Devin Harris changing teams. When Lee signs his deal with the Knicks, he will also have veto power.

If one of these players does consent to a trade, however, he will lose his Bird rights, which means his new team will not be able to exceed the salary cap to sign him to a long-term deal next summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. If Robinson were to veto a trade and finish the season as a Knick, he would still become an unrestricted free agent next summer ... but the Knicks would retain Bird rights, and could go over the cap to sign him, if need be. It also leaves open the possibility of a sign-and-trade, which would not be possible if Robinson were traded and his Bird rights were to consequently disappear.

Interestingly, while the trade veto power seems like a hindrance, it actually provides for more flexibility than in years past. Before the 2005-06 season, when the current collective bargaining agreement went into effect, players on deals similar to those to be signed by Robinson and Lee could not be traded that season under any circumstances.

Why Nate Robinson Can Veto Trades originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raymond Felton to Take $5.5 Million Qualifying Offer From Charlotte

Tom Ziller — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:14:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, NBA Rumors, NBA Transactions

Sean Deveney of The Baseline reports that Charlotte point guard Raymond Felton plans to accept the $5.5 million qualifying offer presented by the Bobcats at the start of free agency. The qualifying offer allowed Charlotte to match any offer sheet from another team signed by Felton. But Felton never found a team willing to pay what he desired. Felton will be an unrestricted free agent next July.

While this result is hardly surprising, there remains a herd of elephants in the room. There's D.J. Augustin, the lottery pick successor to Felton entering his second season. There's Larry Brown, the notoriously trigger-happy boss of the team. And there's Felton himself, who has proved if nothing else over his four seasons that he is just not very good.

Any way you slice it, Felton has been a disappointment. You don't take point guards with the fifth pick in the draft with hopes they will someday become reliably inefficient 14-point scorers who drop seven dimes and three turnovers a night while playing spirited but seriously flawed defense. Just because Felton is reliable does not mean Felton is good. And while there are worse starting point guards in the NBA (Beno Udrih, Luke Ridnour and Chris Duhon spring to mind), that doesn't excuse Felton's failure to improve. (Not that it's necessarily Felton's fault, of course. But no franchise could justify paying out a fat contract to a player who isn't good and isn't improving, and I doubt that will change next summer.)

Given the inside-out tendencies of incumbent stars Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw and newcomer Tyson Chandler, the Bobcats need reliable deep threats on the perimeter. Augustin hit 44% of his threes last season. Felton hit 28.5%. And Augustin (though smaller) gives the team almost everything else Felton can: scoring, decent playmaking. Augustin did get 12 starts under Brown last season, but that was in a tandem role alongside Felton. (Felton played all 82 games, and started 81 of them.)

Perhaps that will work again for Brown, who got the franchise closer to the playoffs than its ever been. Or, just as likely, Brown could plant Augustin in Felton's eternal starting position. That'd mean doom to Felton's already gloomy long-term NBA prospects, but it might be what is best for Charlotte.

Raymond Felton to Take $5.5 Million Qualifying Offer From Charlotte originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allen Iverson Announces Memphis Signing on Twitter

Will Brinson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Rumors, NBA Transactions, NBA Twitter

Allen Iverson has been back and forth on whether or not he would actually join the Memphis Grizzlies -- one of a handful of franchises that meets the exact opposite of his preferences (not competitive, full of young players, no chance at a championship, etc.) But with few options on the table, he's signing with them anyway.

So sayeth the breaking news machine that is Twitter.

God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career. I met with Mr. Heinsley, Chris Wallace and my next head coach Lionel Hollins

Of course, don't let my pessimism about Iverson's future with the Grizzlies deter you ... or him, for that matter.

Tomasson: Step Right Up, Iverson Circus Arrives in Memphis
More: Iverson Officially Introduced

I feel that they are committed to developing a winner and I know that I can help them to accomplish that. I feel that I can trust them.

Right. So, anyway (and more importantly) the details of the contract, from David Aldridge: one year, $3.5 million. Pretty simple and not that surprising, although with Iverson's "committed to building a winner" talk, I kind of expected Iverson to pull some three-year deal that would make everyone who's ever cared about Memphis b-ball to pull the traditional palm-to-face move.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how he fits -- if his tweets are any indication, he's actually ready to play "team-first" ball. But then again, Iverson announced the signing on Twitter, which is so bizarre in the first place that we shouldn't be all that surprised by anything he does from here on out.

Allen Iverson Announces Memphis Signing on Twitter originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C.J. Watson Takes 1-Year Qualifying Offer From Warriors

Matt Steinmetz — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:41:00 EST

Filed under: Warriors, NBA Transactions, FanHouse Exclusive

C.J. Watson makes his offseason home in Las Vegas so he knows a little something about gambling. Apparently, he's going to roll the dice.

Two NBA sources confirmed that Watson will soon take a one-year qualifying offer from the Golden State Warriors worth $1.05 million. What that means is Watson said no to a three-year contract from the Warriors worth $5.4 million.

The Warriors, per team policy, did not comment on the pending signing. Calls to Watson's agent, Mike Higgins, were not returned.

Apparently, Watson didn't want to commit to three years with the Warriors, in large part because they have so many point guards currently under contract. Taking the one-year qualifying offer is risky, however.

For one, Watson is leaving more than $4 million on the table, a gutsy move for someone who was playing in the D-League less than two years ago. In addition, when Watson's contract expires at the end of 2009-10 he'll be in the exact same spot he was this past summer: a restricted free agent.

The Warriors and Orlando Magic talked about a possible sign-and-trade for Watson at various times this offseason. Watson also turned down a one-year, $2.3 million offer from the Philadelphia 76ers.

Watson had announced to his Twitter followers early last week that he would be returning to the Warriors, and various reports had Watson taking the one-year qualifying offer. At the time, Higgins, said that Watson was deciding between the two offers.

The Warriors' initial offer to Watson earlier this summer was for three years, $4.5 million. But in recent weeks, the team sweetened that offer and included a player opt out for Year No. 3.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

C.J. Watson Takes 1-Year Qualifying Offer From Warriors originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Mark Madsen's NBA Career Over?

Tom Ziller — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Timberwolves, NBA Transactions

The Clippers waived Mark Madsen Friday, paying him his $2.8 million salary to take his hustle somewhere else. The interesting note pointed out by Steve Perrin of Clips Nation is that the team chose to waive Mad Dog over Ricky Davis, who makes $2.4 million in 2009-10, the final year of his contract. Given the reputation of each in the locker room, this move either says something about Ricky's physical condition, or Madsen's lack of basketball usefulness.

And that itself leads me to wonder whether Mad Dog's NBA career is finished. It's a tight market, as you've heard ad nauseum. Last year, Madsen only managed to get 116 minutes on a bad Wolves team. The year prior: 151 minutes. The year prior: 473 minutes. The year prior: 676 minutes. The year prior: 601 minutes. Kevin Love played more minutes in his rookie season than Madsen has in the past five seasons combined. And the Wolves weren't exactly full of talent during most of that run.

Madsen turns 34 next season, and he's never been what you would call a "good" player. He earned his Minnesota contract on the strength of his offensive rebounding and on-court ebullience. Offensive rebounding and on-court ebullience are nice -- every team should have some! -- but when combined with a distinct lack of scoring ability, ball skills and size ... he goes out of fashion quickly. As such, Madsen has gone out of style.

That doesn't mean he lacks a legacy. He has three, actually, to my mind. First, he will always be the player comp of choice when an analyst is attempting to demean the potential of a scrappy if unrefined college prospect. See: Hansbrough, Tyler.

Second, no one will soon forget the most egregious episode of tanking this world has ever seen: the night Mark Madsen helped Minnesota lose on the last day of the season by shooting seven three-pointers and 15 shots overall. He went 0-for-7 from downtown, 1-for-15 in total. Both figures were career highs in attempts. In fact, Madsen had never before taken more than one three-pointer in a game. (As punishment for this disgusting act, the Basketball Gods forced Kevin McHale to trade Brandon Roy to Portland for Randy Foye. Lesson learned.)

And finally, we will all remember Mad Dog Madsen ... are you freaking kidding me? You had to see this coming.

Is Mark Madsen's NBA Career Over? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raptors Trade Carlos Delfino, Roko Ukic to Bucks for Amir Johnson

Matt Moore — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:13:00 EST

Filed under: Bucks, Raptors, NBA Rumors, NBA Transactions

Follow the logic train on this one.

Toronto needs defense and rebounding, since Andrea Bargnani, as talented as he is, lacks the toughness of say, an ostrich. They also need to clear 2010 space since The Big Twittermental, Chris Bosh, is going to have his share of offers. The Bucks have Amir Johnson, with $3.6 million expiring contract.

Milwaukee needs some flexibility at the wing, since Michael Redd spends more time on the shelf than Gigli. They also need some cheap backup point options, in case this whole Ramon Sessions thing doesn't go down. Toronto has Carlos Delfino (in a sign-and-trade possibility), and Roko Ukic.

Let's make a deal! Eventually!

The Toronto Star's Doug Smith first grabbed hold of the finalizing discussions between the two teams, verifying the sign-and-trade, but had not confirmed the other player in a 2-for-2 swap coming from Milwaukee. ESPN is now reporting that the other player is cap fodder and former Nugget Sonny Weems. In an interesting sidenote, the Sun also mentions that Johnson cannot be traded in a package until August 23, and Ukic cannot be traded in a package until November, which means the two teams will either wait, or process two individual trades, Johnson for Delfino and Weems for Ukic.

For the Raptors, this is a win-win. They didn't want to foot the bill for the 26-year-old Delfino, and Ukic is a little too much of a long-term project for the Colangelo "Win Now, Win At All Costs" initiative. Johnson, on the other hand, provides exactly what they want: cheap, dirty work with an expiring that they can use as a rebounding and defensive augmentation to the scoring combo of Bosh and Bargnani.

It's a bit more complicated for the Bucks, who seem to not be closing the door on Sessions's return, but putting a hand on the door and tensing their collective arm for a shove. Ukic is one of those players who no one can decide if he'll bust out or turn out nicely, which makes life for Luke Ridnour Fan Club President Scott Skiles' decision much easier than if Sessions returns. Apparently, the Bucks also feel that newly signed free agent Hakim Warrick can play the "tough rebound and defense guy" for them. No word yet on if the Bucks' management has fallen through some sort of space-time continuum vortex into an alternate reality and where they come from Warrick does those things.

Perhaps most interesting about this move is that the Bucks now have three guys who are set in their positions (Redd, Andrew Bogut, and Ridnour), and about 10 guys who can play four positions on the floor. The Bucks could very well trot out a lineup of Ridnour-Jennings-Delfino-Mbah a Moute-Bogut. Similarly, try and wrap your brains around Calderon-DeRozan-Johnson-Bosh-Bargnani. Versatility's the name of the game, people.

Raptors Trade Carlos Delfino, Roko Ukic to Bucks for Amir Johnson originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Adding Joe Smith, Hawks Gain on Contenders in Eastern Conference

Tim Povtak — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Hawks, NBA Transactions

In their typical low-key, take-your-time style, the Atlanta Hawks are moving closer to turning the Big Three of the Eastern Conference - Boston, Orlando, Cleveland - into a Big Four party this season.

According to reports Friday, the Hawks added veteran power forward Joe Smith to an already-promising mix that has improved steadily over the last five years, turning Atlanta into a legitimate contender in the East.

After re-signing free agents Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams and Zaza Pachulia - their own free agents -- earlier this summer, the Hawks improved their depth considerably by adding Jamal Crawford to the backcourt and now Smith to the frontcourt.

Smith, the No. 1 pick of the Golden State Warriors in 1995, was being courted by several teams, including Cleveland, where he played last season. He reached an agreement with the Hawks that will pay him the veteran's minimum of $1.3 million. Smith helped the Cavs crush the Hawks in the conference semifinal round this spring.

The signing of Smith doesn't rank with the Celtics adding Rasheed Wallace or the Cavs getting Shaquille O'Neal, but he fills a glaring hole on the Hawks front line without altering team chemistry like the other additions do.

The Hawks won 47 games last season and beat the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. They have gradually improved their win total the last five years, from 13 to 26 to 30 to 37 to 47. They expect to crack the 50-win mark this season for the first time in 12 years.

Crawford, 29, came in a trade earlier this summer from Golden State when the Hawks gave up only Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. He has averaged 18 points over the last six seasons. He gives them a very potent three-guard rotation with Bibby and Joe Johnson.

Smith, a 14-year-veteran, has averaged 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in his career spanning eight other teams. He should provide both leadership and serve as a backup to Josh Smith at power forward and Al Horford and Pachulia at center.

The Hawks assembled their still-budding front court slowly and through the draft the last several years. Horford is going into his third season. Williams is in his fifth season. Pachulia, the backup center who also allows Horford to play at power forward, is the veteran workhorse who provides depth like Smith is expected to do.

By Adding Joe Smith, Hawks Gain on Contenders in Eastern Conference originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quentin Richardson Traded Again

Tom Ziller — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:48:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Knicks, Timberwolves, NBA Transactions

In my beloved state of California, the government is broke. Back in July, out of cash, the state began paying its bills with IOUs: here's a certificate saying we owe you X dollars plus X% interest. But the vendors and whatnot didn't just hang on to the IOUs -- they needed cash! Yet national interest rates are so low that the IOUs actually became a decent investment vehicle, so some parties in California actually sought out the IOUs, and many banks, credit unions and even businesses accept them as readily as they would dollar bills. In a way, the IOUs have become a new form of currency.

Quentin Richardson has now been traded four times in seven weeks, the latest to Miami in exchange for Mark Blount. We definitely have a handle on Q's value -- no player has ever had their worth marked so finely. If you wanted to, you could figure out just how many DeSagana Diops or Etan Thomases you could for your Q. In a way, Quentin Richardson has become a new form of currency.

As a reminder, Q was traded around draft day for Darko Milicic. Later, the Clippers took him in exchange for Zach Randolph. The Clips sent him off for a package including Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith and Mark Madsen. And now he's gone off for Blount (who will be bought out by the Wolves, according to Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune).

It's hard to keep straight! How about a Quentin Richardson Official Business and Emoticon Map?

For what it's worth, Pat Riley seems excited about Q, who admittedly is a better player than Blount but makes an extra $1.4 million this season. Depending on how the Miami frontcourt shakes out (especially with regards to where Michael Beasley plays), Richardson could get major minutes as a spot-up three-point shooter next to Dwyane Wade.

Q can still hit threes -- he shot 35% on nearly 1,000 bombs over four Knicks seasons. It's the other type of shot that gives him problems. Over that same time period, he has hit only 40% of his two-point attempts and has an anemic foul rate. So clearly, Q needs to stop venturing inside the arc. Wade will pass the ball out. Jermaine O'Neal won't, and Beasley won't. But Wade will, and Q can help by sinking two or three bombs a game.

Quentin Richardson Traded Again originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With Butler Trade, Hornets Smoothly Slipping Toward Solvency

Tom Ziller — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Hornets, NBA Transactions

This is precisely what New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower was not going to be able to do: drop salary in the tighest NBA climate in decades. But lo! the Hornets are actually on the precipice of slipping under the luxury tax threshold. On Wednesday, the team traded Rasual Butler to the Clippers for practically nothing; L.A. used part of its Zach Randolph trade exception.

While the Clips get an able back-up wing that, yes, New Orleans could have used, the Hornets sit $4 million closer to the tax line. For every dollar over the threshold a team sits come June 30, said team must pay $1, which is then spread among the teams under the line. Before trading Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor and Butler for squat, New Orleans was some $10 million over the tax line. Now the team is less than $4 million away from escaping the tax.

Teams often shed a few million at the trade deadline for tax reasons. GMs (non-Pritchard division) like to help each other out, as self-defeating as that sounds, and high-salary teams can often cobble together proper incentives for a non-contender, non-taxpayer to take a small contract away. This winter, that could mean finding a taker for Devin Brown's expiring contract, which would shed another $1 million for New Orleans' payroll. Or maybe the team will give up on Hilton Armstrong, first by rejecting his 2010-11 option before October 27, and then by sending him to a young team, clearing $2.8 million.

The point is that now New Orleans has options. That seemed so impossible even a month ago that smart people were actually wasting time contemplating whether George Shinn would push to trade Chris Paul provided he got the most amazing financial considerations known to man. Chris Paul! But Bower has saved the franchise from that sort of rumor pit by deftly maneuvering around the fringe. The Chandler-Okafor swap was major, and some feel it will hurt New Orleans. But even if it's a downgrade -- and I'm not convinced it was -- it's not big enough, combined with the loss of Butler, to destroy the Hornets' chances. And that's the key here: cutting salary while maintaining your talent base is difficult. Bower has done it.

NBA observers at large have lost faith in Bower and the Hornets in whole several times. The Morris Peterson signing, Peja Stojakovic's mammoth contract, the James Posey poaching, the refusal to draft another big ... all these demerits remain in the back of our mind. But this latest playlist from Bower is a good bit of absolution, and I dig it. Let's see what he can come up with next.

With Butler Trade, Hornets Smoothly Slipping Toward Solvency originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glen Davis Close to Contract With Celtics

Matt Watson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, NBA Transactions

Glen Davis entered the offseason as a restricted free agent with hopes of signing for the midlevel exception. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be -- the harsh economic climate has made it difficult for established stars to find that kind of money on the free agent contract, let alone a power forward averse to rebounding.

As the Celtics made moves to strengthen their front court, signing Rasheed Wallace and Shelden Williams, it began to look like they were prepared to move on without Big Baby, but that's apparently not the case. As reported by Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday night (and confirmed by the Herald and Globe this morning), Davis is close to signing a two-year deal to remain in Boston. According to the Herald, the deal may include a player option for a third season.

Glen Davis Close to Contract With Celtics originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grizzlies Find a Way Around Minimum Salary Requirement

Tom Ziller — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:12:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Transactions

We all know about the NBA's salary cap -- a limit teams are allowed to spend on players. The cap is soft, and the vast majority of teams exceed the salary cap on an annual basis. Rarely will a team spend a whole season, let alone multiple seasons, under the cap.

But there's also something called a minimum team salary, the level of player spending teams must exceed each year. The collective bargaining agreement signed in 2005 sets the minimum team salary at 75% of the salary cap level. For the upcoming 2009-10 season, that minimum salary would be $43.2 million.

Would you believe that the masters of the cheap, the Memphis Grizzlies, have found a way around the minimum salary? And would you believe it explains the Zach Randolph trade?

It should be no surprise. Heck, on Friday the Grizzlies agreed to take Steven Hunter off Denver's hands. Hunter, an oft-injured center, is owed $3.6 million next season. Conveniently, the Nuggets gave $3 million -- the maximum amount one team can give another -- to take over the deal. Again: this is no surprise, this is how Memphis operates. (In July, the team made a profit on the Shawn Marion deal by taking at least $3 million -- possibly $6 million -- to cover Jerry Stackhouse's $2 million buy-out, even though the team also lost Greg Buckner's $1 million guaranteed contract in the process. At the very least, the Marion deal, in which Memphis was a lubricant, covered the rest of Hunter's salary this season. At best, it covered for Hunter and, say, Rudy Gay.)

But the minimum team salary, that's sacred. How in the world does a team bargain around that? Two words: Zach Randolph ... OK, two more: deferred salary.

The contract Randolph signed with the Blazers in 2004 including an interesting twist: 30% of the salary was deferred until 2012. Salary deferrment isn't entirely unique, but the size of the portion of Z-Bo's contract delayed is important, and rare (if not altogether unheard-of in today's NBA).

For salary cap counting purposes, Randolph's contract is structured like any ol' six-year contract: the totality of his contract ($84 million) is covered within the six years it employs him. That includes a cap figure of $16 million this year and $17.3 million next season.

But in actuality, the Grizzlies need only pay Randolph $11.2 million this season. The rest of the money owed will be a part of $25 million Randolph will earn over six years beginning in 2012.

So what's the problem? Before Memphis traded for Z-Bo in July, it sat below the minimum salary level -- at roughly $36 million. On paper, the trade took the Memphis salary to $43.3 million -- conveniently above the minimum salary threshold. But really, because of Randolph's deferred salary, the Grizz were only on the hook for $38.5 million, or about $5 million less than the minimum amount the team is supposed to spend on talent.

The Hunter move, as well as eventual second-round pick signings, will push the salary cap level higher, though in a real-world sense the Grizzlies are paying very few players this season. This isn't meant to elucidate some loophole, or to tattle on the Grizzlies. But so long as local Memphis media continues to repurpose the company line which says, "No no no, we're doing GREAT!, never mind that we have more losses than any other team over the last three years and our gym is empty, we're still making money and that's all the matters!" ... so long as Michael Heisley's defense gets an uncritical parroting from certain parts of the news media in Tennessee, fans need to know just how much team management is angling to make a profit with no interest in fielding a competitive basketball team.

(By the way: yes, Memphis would be on the hook for Randolph's deferred payment schedule beginning in 2012 ... if the team doesn't trade him first. There's a substantial chance that by 2012 Heisley will have sold the team. That's roughly the year in which the team's relocation penalty becomes feasible to pay. If Heisley does sell before 2012, that means he has personally escaped minimum salary requirements for this season, providing the team doesn't go out and sign Allen Iverson or something.)

Grizzlies Find a Way Around Minimum Salary Requirement originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rashard Lewis Suspended 10 Games for Violating Steroid Policy

Tim Povtak — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, NBA Transactions

The recent string of good fortune for the Orlando Magic just ended.

The news Thursday that All-Star forward Rashard Lewis had been suspended by the NBA for 10 games for violating the Anti-Drug Program was like a bad wake-up call.

Lewis tested positive recently for an elevated testosterone level, which is common among steroid users, and he will miss the first 10 games of the regular season without pay. The NBA issued the suspension Thursday.

More: Supplement Lewis Took Legal in MLB | Magic GM Not Shocked

According to league sources, Lewis was taking a supplement that contained a substance called Dehydroepiandrosterone, a chemical found in several over-the-counter products at nutrition stores. The substance is banned by most sports leagues, including the NBA.

Lewis issued the following statement through the Magic, who have not yet commented on the suspension:

"First and foremost I take full responsibility for the situation and accept the corresponding penalty. Toward the end of the season I took an over-the-counter supplement which at the time I did not realize included a substance banned by the NBA. I apologize to Magic fans, my teammates and this organization for not doing the research that should come with good judgment. I hope this unintentional mistake will not reflect poorly on our team and its great character. I hope every athlete can learn from my mistake that supplements, no matter how innocent they seem, should only be taken after consulting an expert in the field."

NBA players are randomly tested four times each season under the league's Anti-Drug Agreement. The first positive test for steroids or any performance enhancing drug results in a 10-game suspension. The second positive test is a 25-game suspension and the third positive test would be a one-year suspension.

The Magic are coming off their finest season in history, a spot in the NBA Finals and a summer of optimism that included the addition of All-Star Vince Carter, along with role playing forwards Brandon Bass and Matt Barnes.

With a goal this season of winning the championship, they are set to move into a sparkling new downtown arena for the 2010-11 season.

Lewis, an 11-year veteran, was coming off his second All-Star appearance, carving his niche as one of the finest 3-point shooters in the league. The Magic's recent success has elevated them among the league's elite, as evidenced earlier this week by the national TV schedule that included 29 Magic games, most in franchise history.

In his absence for the first 10 games, the Magic likely will move Mickael Pietrus into his starting spot, alongside Bass at forward.

Rashard Lewis Suspended 10 Games for Violating Steroid Policy originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brandon Roy Extended Through 2015

Tom Ziller — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Trail Blazers, NBA Transactions

There has been some trepidation this summer as Portland media -- namely Jason Quick of The Oregonian -- has reported trouble between the Blazers and star Brandon Roy with regards to his contract extension. Roy, as a three-year veteran, is eligible to have his rookie contract extended for up to five years, taking effect next July. He is expected to be the only maximum salary player from the draft class of 2006, but the issue with Portland has been contract length: Roy wanted a player option for the fifth season of the deal, and the Blazers weren't with it.

Well, that's all over. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports tweets that the team has reached an agreement with Roy for a five-year extension worth about $80 million, following on Quick's Tuesday report the sides were close to an agreement.

There never should have been any question from the Blazers regarding a deal: Roy is not only the best asset Portland has, but he's truly one of the league's greatest young talents. He belongs in the same breath as Deron Williams and Dwight Howard, frankly, just behind LeBron James and Chris Paul.

Of course, there's no crime in the Blazers convincing Roy they know what's best for him. We don't yet know if the contract involves a player option for 2014-15, and that's the signal on which side "won." In the end, not even that matters right now. The key is that Roy will get paid, and the Blazers will have the services of a stud through his prime. Clink those glasses, Portland. It's a day to celebrate.

Brandon Roy Extended Through 2015 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Union, Owners Open Labor Talks

Tom Ziller — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:23:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Transactions

A committee of NBA owners will meet Tuesday in New York with representatives from the players union to open up negotiations on the league's collective bargaining agreement. The contract is set to expire in 2011, and with fiscal strain high, the L-word -- "lock-out" -- has been floated about.

David Aldridge of NBA.com has a primer on what each side wants. A few of the rumored points of contention are a bit shocking.

Players are currently guaranteed 57% of basketball-related revenue generated by the sport. According to Aldridge, owners want to bring that to 50%. A few owners even want to flip the script and promise themselves more than half of the revenue. Aldridge also mentions that an NFL-style hard cap is favored among the owners, and a 200% luxury tax (in lieu of the current 100% tax) will initially be on the table.

Players will bristle at any major changes in the revenue split -- they already leave up to 9% of their salary on the table in escrow funds never recovered. As for the hard cap: that has less to do with the players than it does the owners. Even with the harsh penalty of the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, owners still go way over the threshold for a competitive edge. (Aldridge notes seven teams have $80 million in payroll locked up next season -- that's $10 million over the tax threshold.) It's the arms race -- every contender trying to one-up each other -- that drives these salaries ... not player holdouts. Rasheed Wallace and Ron Artest both signed for the mid-level exception, for criminy's sake.

I don't believe a hard cap will go over among the owners -- the rich, easy spenders like Mark Cuban and Jerry Buss have a competitive advantage in being able to pay lots of luxury tax. The real battle, it would appear, will come in sliding the revenue split line. I imagine it will fall -- the union's in a pretty bad negotiating position, according to popular opinion -- but the owners who think it will swing south of 50% are either high or dead serious about locking out the players in 2011.

NBA Union, Owners Open Labor Talks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Odom, Lakers Have a Deal

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Lakers, NBA Transactions

It appears that the Lamar Odom saga has finally come to a conclusion, and it's a favorable one for Lakers fans.

ESPN is reporting that Odom has agreed to remain in Los Angeles, and while the numbers aren't quite confirmed just yet, the deal is expected to be worth up to $33 million over four years, with the team holding the option for the final season.

If the numbers turn out to be true, then Odom accepted a reduced offer from team owner Jerry Buss -- one that was widely reported to be in the neighborhood of three years, $25 million guaranteed, as opposed to the team's initial offer of three years and somewhere between $27 and $30 million.

Odom was at a slight disadvantage at the negotiating table, however, because everybody knew that he never really wanted to leave Los Angeles. And since there was a shortage (or virtual non-existence) of teams with available cap space knocking at his door, the only way to make that happen was to take the lower offer from the Lakers.

The Miami Heat were in serious pursuit, and their public offer of five years, $34 million (with a player option for the fifth year) wouldn't have been a bad consolation prize if Odom was truly upset with the Lakers' version of hardball.

In the end, however, it seems that Odom was content to leave a few million on the table for the chance to stay in L.A., defend the championship he helped bring to the city, and play alongside childhood friend Ron Artest.

Report: Odom, Lakers Have a Deal originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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