“The Truth” is what Doc Rivers might just need to order for him to finally get the Los Angeles Clippers over the hump.
Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce, aka “The Truth”, is expected to opt out of his $5.5 million player option with the team. David Aldridge of NBA.com is reporting the 10-time All-Star is looking to reunite with Rivers in Los Angeles:
As I reported as likely to happen a couple of weeks ago, Paul Pierce will opt out of his Wizards contract. The expectation among many around the league remains Pierce will wind up in L.A. with the Clippers.
Pierce, who won a championship with Rivers in 2008, is from L.A. and both are probably huge factors in why he could return home. The Clippers are also in the market for a starting small forward after trading away forward Matt Barnes and center Spencer Hawes to the Charlotte Hornets for Lance Stephenson last week. If Pierce signed with the Clippers, he would assume the responsibilities of being the starting small forward. Rivers has already stated he wants to use Stephenson as a “utility player” off the bench. Pierce would most likely split time with Stephenson at the position, with Rivers inserting Pierce into the lineup when L.A. needs a shot.
The 2008 Finals MVP raised his regular-season scoring average of 11.9 points to 14.6 in the playoffs, consistently hitting big shot after another throughout the postseason. The Clippers have never been to the Conference Finals, so adding a piece like Pierce could certainly enhance the club’s bravado and mental toughness, particularly when it comes to the postseason.
Home could very well be where the heart is for Pierce, but it’s hard to imagine him leaving Washington despite Aldridge’s report. He’s become a fan favorite there and has developed a close bond with players on the team. And after the fantastic playoff-run he just had, it would be surprising (for someone as competitive as he is) if he didn’t want to go back and try again.
Lakers actively pursing Cousins through trade
With less than three days left till the 2015 NBA Draft, it seems the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to make a big splash before Thursday’s event.
ESPN’s Marc Stein is reporting Los Angeles is ‘determined’ to acquire Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins through a trade. Read more:
The Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as one of the most determined trade suitors for Sacramento Kings All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN that the Lakers have been actively pursuing trade scenarios in recent weeks in attempt to construct a deal that would convince the Kings to part with Cousins.
The Lakers might have a familiar ally willing to help orchestrate the trade. One of the reported trade scenarios includes a three-team deal, which would include the Orlando Magic into the mix. Orlando has been down this road before with Los Angeles, when the two franchises were involved in the four-team blockbuster trade, moving key pieces like center Dwight Howard to the Lakers and center Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia:
Sources say that the Lakers, Kings and Orlando Magic have had exploratory dialogue on a three-way Cousins trade that would land the 24-year-old in Los Angeles. All three teams hold top-6 picks in Thursday’s NBA draft, and Orlando has a young top-flight center of its own in Nikola Vucevic, who could theoretically fill the Cousins void.
Cousins, coming off an All-Star year where he averaged career-bests in points (24.1) and rebounds (12.7), was not thrilled the organization got rid of former coach Mike Malone. Malone, who was recently named the new head coach of the Denver Nuggets, was respected by Cousins and many felt he was the reason the former first-round pick was finally playing up to his potential. Cousins sent out this tweet after Malone had been hired by Denver:
Can’t hold a good man down for long …
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) June 15, 2015
Since taking over the Kings’ front office, Vlade Divac has consistently refuted the notion the organization would deal Cousins away and reiterated as much in Sunday’s edition of the Sacremento Bee. Read more from Ailene Voisin:
(Divac) scoffed at rumors suggesting he would consider trading his All-Star center.
“That is not happening,” Divac said forcefully, “but I would love to do something, a smaller move, before the draft. We have a lot of changes to make. The league is much more up-tempo now, and we need more three-point shooting. If we don’t get that in the draft, we’ll be active in free agency and see about making trades later in the offseason.
Charlotte to host 2017 All-Star game
Michael Jordan wins again. Time Warner Cable Arena, the league’s third newest gym, will host the 2017 All-Star game after Charlotte won the bidding rights to do so, reports Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer:
EXCUSIVE: Charlotte wins bid to host 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend. Formal announcement tomorrow. Story coming.
— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) June 22, 2015
The formal announcement is expected to come in a news conference Tuesday with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets, in attendance. Charlotte officials and the organization submitted their bid last summer:
In comments during a visit to Charlotte last year, Silver said he thought it was a sure thing Charlotte would be awarded an All-Star Weekend after city officials agreed to various upgrades and renovations at Time Warner Cable Arena.
“Personally I’m very excited about coming back here. I don’t think there’s any question it’s going to happen,” Silver said in December. “Just a matter of what year.”
The city agreed last fall to pay $27.5 million toward various improvements to the arena. The NBA saw those improvements as key to any All-Star bid.
The Lakers are now ‘on the clock.’ The Minnesota Timberwolves have informed prospect Karl-Anthony Towns he will be selected first overall in Thursday’s draft over center Jahlil Okafor, according to a source close to Towns told SNY.tv: “It’s done, he’s going to Minnesota,” the source said. “[Minnesota President and coach] Flip Saunders was big on Jahlil Okafor for a minute there and after Karl came in [on Saturday], he decided to work out for them. He only worked out for them and it’s a wrap. It’s a wrap. They just told him they’re going to take him No. 1.” If Towns is selected first, he will join the 2015 Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins and Bennett as the other two No. 1 picks on the roster, provided Bennett isn’t dealt away.
The first overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft could possibly be playing for his third team in three years. The Minnesota Timberwolves have made it known forward Anthony Bennett will be available via trade ahead of Thursday’s NBA draft, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. Since entering the league, Bennett has played no more than 57 games in a season and posts career-averages of 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Brooklyn Nets forward Thaddeus Young will opt out of the final year of his contract, according to general manager Billy King. Young, who was due $10.2 million if he would have opted in, will now be an unrestricted free agent this summer: “The Nets, who want to retain him, hold Young’s Bird rights, which could enable them to pay him more than any other team could.Young, who turned 27 on Sunday, averaged 13.8 points per game and shot 49.5 percent from the field after being acquired by the Nets at the trade deadline from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Garnett.
The Atlanta Hawks and Danny Ferry officially parted ways Tuesday after the former general manager took an indefinite leave of absence more than eight months ago due to remarks he made about Miami Heat forward Luol Deng. Ferry released a statement: “While the past year has been incredibly difficult and humbling, it is critical for me to clear my name and for people to realize that I have always built a culture of respect, diversity, and honesty. Now that the key facts have been made known, I am making the difficult decision to step away from this team and this special group of players. I have seen how gracious and forgiving people can be – especially Luol, who had every right to be hurt and angry after being brought into this situation. I thank him for his forgiveness and support. I also greatly appreciate that our players and coaches have been supportive, along with so many friends, old and new. As the Hawks move to a new chapter, I will continue to support the players and wish them the continued success that they and the fans of Atlanta deserve.” Coach Mike Budenholzer is expected to be the team’s president when the new ownership group takes over.
The Detroit Pistons are interested in swapping guard Brandon Jennings for Tim Hardaway Jr., according to ESPN’s Ian Begley: “Jennings is entering the final year of his contract and will make $8.3 million next season. In a Jennings-for-Hardaway Jr. swap, the Knicks would likely have to use their trade exception and adjust their outgoing assets to make the deal work. It’s unknown if the Knicks would want to take Jennings’ salary out without further enticement. It’s also worth noting that former NBA star Tim Hardaway Sr., Hardaway Jr.’s father, is an assistant coach with the Pistons.”
Odus Evbagharu is a blogger for Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on Twitter: @iamodus_