Here’s Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal-Times with a really interesting look at Monta Ellis’ future plans: “As the Milwaukee Bucks season winds down, it appears Monta Ellis’ days in a Bucks uniform are numbered as well. At least, that’s the prevailing sentiment of some Ellis acquaintances. They claim Ellis, the Bucks’ potent-scoring guard, has indicated to them that he intends on opting out of his contract after the season and becoming an unrestricted free agent. … In conversations with several general managers, not one said they would pay Ellis more than he’s already receiving. That’s $11 million, which is the same amount he would be paid next season if he opted to remain with the Bucks. But as one general manager noted, it only takes one team to be enamored with Ellis’ explosive scoring abilities and give him a long-term deal in excess of $11 million per season. Working in Ellis’ favor is that there are nearly a dozen teams that will have ample salary-cap flexibility this season. At least four of them will be in the market for a shooting guard. Those teams are Atlanta (Ellis’ name was prominently mentioned with the Hawks at the trading deadline), Phoenix, Dallas and Minnesota. There has also been scuttlebutt Ellis would be quite receptive to signing with the Memphis Grizzlies. Ellis has a home outside of Memphis and spends a considerable amount of time there during the offseason.”
Marc Stein’s latest Weekend Dime for ESPN.com features his year-end awards ballot, which is always worth reading, so click through for that. (Chris Sheridan is voting on all awards this year, too. His column on his picks will run Thursday). Here’s a side note from Stein on Josh Smith: “It’s easy to forget now, after they tried so hard to trade him in February, but the Hawks did want to sign Josh Smith to a contract extension before the season started. The figure shared with me this week: Atlanta’s offer coming into the 2012-13 campaign was a three-year extension worth in excess of $45 million. Yet sources close to the situation say that the extension talks never got too deep because Smith made it clear from the start that he wanted to make it to free agency, which would enable him to sign a longer deal. League rules on extensions precluded the Hawks from offering anything longer than three extra years during the season.The Hawks, however, grew increasingly uneasy with the arrangement as the season wore on, since Smith’s stance set him up to be an unrestricted free agent July 1 who could leave town without compensation. So Atlanta aggressively shopped Smith before the Feb. 21 trade deadline and was engaged in serious talks with Milwaukee right up to the trade buzzer.”Danny Green: Shocked as anyone. The idea of it had been circling around. It was very abrupt.
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Danny Green: Yeah, at times (saw Jack's discontent). That's the nature of the game. Used to big role, hard to adjust.
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Danny Green: Jack's one of my favorite guys to be around. I thought he was a great locker room guy. But I don't make the decisions.
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Andrew Bogut’s ankle is hurt again. Here’s the AP story: “Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut has a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left ankle. An MRI on Friday revealed the latest injury complication for the often-hobbled Australian big man. Bogut sprained his ankle during the Warriors’ loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday night, keeping him out of Friday’s game against the Lakers. He has missed 49 of Golden State’s 80 games this season. Bogut’s MRI results will be examined by the doctor who performed offseason microfracture surgery on his ankle. The Warriors should know more about the extent of the injury in the next few days.”CHECK OUT NEWS FROM FRIDAY’S BLOG
Dan Malone is a journalism student at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He blogs, edits and learns things on the fly for Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on Twitter.
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I’m not going to belittle the injury, and I don’t with harm on any player, but what did D’Antoni think was going to happen playing him for EVERY minute of the last few games? He is older and more worn down than earlier in his career, obviously, and maybe Kobe wouldn’t have felt the pressure to singlehandedly deliver the playoffs to Lakers fans if he hadn’t made that guarantee last month. I’m more interested in the Lakers NOW than I was before though, and will definitely be tuning in to see how Dwight can lead the team in Kobe’s absence. I work late nights at DISH, but my new app will find all the games for me no problem. I have the DISH Game Finder which finds all the TV games for me in seconds; it lets me set reminders and recordings for upcoming games, so I won’t miss a second of THIS debacle.
Pop may determine the future of the Lakers. Does he play to win tomorrow night?
Utah has an easier game vs Minny on Monday.
Should Spurs and Utah win those games, then Utah becomes the favorite and playoffs wouldn’t be determined until Wednesday.
That outcome could also impact the major decision Howard has to make. Houston would definitely be a better team for him next season, if he wants to win. Also there would be less pressure in Houston.
Should Howard leave, Lakers could get Way under the salary cap by Amnestying Kobe’s 30.5 million expiring salary. Kobe could return in 1 year for the Vet Min (he doesn’t need the money). In the meantime Lakers could add a couple of the top free agents.
The quote I heard is MINIMUM time of 6-9 months. Lakers seem to be twisting the story to what they want. Also not clear if that is time for actually playing in game, or maybe just cleared to play (refer to Derrick Rose who never intended to play this season – Bulls FO wasn’t honest.
Its one thing to return in 10 months, as with Billups, its another thing for someone who relies on high level athleticism to be playing at 100%. Kobe may not be happy if he isn’t the same player as he was. Finally, Nate McMillan said on NBATV that he had the injury as a coach, and imagined the fear of re-injuring oneself on every sharp cut, would prevent someone from playing the same way.
Also, I believe they said that they haven’t even considered Amnesty and said it in a forceful way. They wouldn’t rule it out later on (ie July 9-16 when the decision needs to be made).