Hello and welcome to the Sheridan Hoops blog, where we round up the latest news and rumors from all around the NBA. This week, you are once again looking at my face (complete with that mustache I rocked for exactly one month) at the top of the column, after a one-week absence from the weekend blog slot.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons were texting each other frequently. I remember this because it was in the headline. I never forget things I put in headlines. I also remember this because Dwight of course went to the Rockets, and today he mentioned that whole texting Chandler Parsons thing again. Which I think validates my decision to put it in the headline, something I was a little uncertain on at the time of writing.
So make sure you pay close attention to today’s blog, because today’s rumor could be three weeks from now’s analysis.
With that in mind, here it is:
- Not a huge surprise here, but interesting nonetheless, from Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com: “Among the players coming to Boston are Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries. However, CSNNE Celtics insider Sherrod Blakely has learned that the team may be looking to deal those two. Wallace has three years left on his contract, while Humphries has only one year left on his. The Celtics currently have more players than they can keep on the active roster, thus the possibility of trades.”
- The Celtics’ rebuild looks to be off to a good start, regardless of whether they can move Wallace and Humphries, if Kevin McHale is to be believed. Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald writes: “While Kelly Olynyk is not Kevin McHale, it is important to note that no less an expert on the matter than Kevin McHale thinks the Celtics rookie is pretty damn good. “I like him,” said the Celts legend and current Rockets coach. “I like him a lot. I tell you what, he does some interesting stuff. I was telling our guys that it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a guy get an offensive rebound and just quick lay it over the rim like he did out there. No one else reacted. You play by yourself when you do that, because people aren’t reacting like you are. “He’s learned how to play step-throughs, pump fakes and stuff. I mean, he does a lot of interesting stuff. And for a young kid, he’s got good vision. “He’s just a very nice, nice player. He does a lot of old-school stuff.” “
- Another non-surprise, though again, something worth knowing, comes from Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “The Timberwolves officially announced or acknowledged a flurry of signings — free agents Chase Budinger, Corey Brewer and Ronny Turiaf as well as top draft pick Shabazz Muhammad — on Friday to bring their list of players with guaranteed contracts to 13. But what about the biggest — both figuratively and literally — of them all, No. 14 on both his jersey and roster slot: Nikola Pekovic? Worry not, Wolves Nation, says new President of Basketball of Operations Flip Saunders. Saunders said Friday that contract negotiations continue to progress with arguably the best free agent left on the market, albeit slowly as the team and Pekovic’s representatives work toward middle ground on a four-year contract that is expected to pay him at least $12.5 million a season. “I think there’s a misconception, at least when I read Twitter,” said Saunders, who has sworn off tweeting himself but still follows along. “People think he can go pretty much where he wants to go. We have the ability to sign Pek, so we expect he will be back.” “
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Dwight: “Chandler is the guy you should really thank. He was blowing my phone up every day.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 13, 2013
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Dwight: “Chandler and I have already talked about doing music videos together…” (McHale immediately buries head in hands)
— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) July 13, 2013
One of the most bizarre moves of the offseason to date was Andrei Kirilenko opting out of $10 million with the Wolves to make just over $3 million with the Nets. Alex Raskin of the Wall Street Journal looks at the reasoning: “Kirilenko can opt out of this deal before the 2014-15 season, so it’s not as if he’s taken a vow of poverty. Still, it’s interesting to see one of Russia’s wealthiest men and its most famous basketball player prioritizing an NBA title over a few more rubles. “I give him credit for it,” Kirilenko’s agent Marc Fleisher told The Wall Street Journal. “He said ‘I’ve made well over $100 million in my career. The difference isn’t going to change my lifestyle so, let me pursue the ability to possibly win a title.'” … Kirilenko had other reasons to join the Nets, according to Fleisher. His wife, Russian pop star Masha Lopatov “Marina” Kirilenko, wants to work on her fashion line from New York. Furthermore, Kirilenko has a lengthy history with Prokhorov, who was previously a part owner of CSKA Moscow. King confirmed that Prokhorov reached out to Kirilenko.”-
Rumble out of the Rockies: Denver Nuggets expressing certifiable interest in trying to sign free-agent PG Nate Robinson
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 13, 2013
- Some Metta World Peace news now, from Sam Amick of USA Today: “Yet while World Peace told reporters in Los Angeles on Friday that he was considering retiring, playing in China, playing arena football or perhaps becoming a player development coach, the reality remains that he would not be paid the $7.7 million he is owed if he refused to report to the team that claimed him. If he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, however, there are still indications that he has interest in joining a contending team in the NBA. The issue at hand appears to be his professional freedom, as clearing waivers would allow him to make a choice on retiring or joining a contender while not losing the earnings. A person with knowledge of World Peace’s situation told USA TODAY Sports that he now has the Los Angeles Clippers atop his list of possible destinations. The Queensbridge, N.Y. native previously had his hometown New York Knicks as his preferred choice his list of favorites, but he is now said to be more interested in joining the new-look Clippers while being able to avoid relocating. Both teams appear to have interest in adding World Peace, but would only be able to offer him a veteran’s minimum contract of $1.4 million annually.”
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It’s a virtual certainty Brandan Wright returns to Mavs. Sides discussing deal in $4M per year range. Might be 2-year deal.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 13, 2013
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Hawks have officially announced the matching offer sheet to Jeff Teague. #ATLHawks
— Chris Vivlamore (@ajchawks) July 14, 2013
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Washington has interest in free agent DeJuan Blair, sources tell Y! Sign-and-trade a consideration, but Spurs may be unmoved by choices.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 13, 2013
- More Wizards talk, this one from Michael Lee of the Washington Post: ” “We do have to look probably at a bigger, from a bigger standpoint, maybe adding someone to the frontline of that nature. See if we can do that,” Wittman said. “We need to find a stretch-four. That’s always good to have the ability to go big, which we can obviously with Emeka, Nene or Kevin. A situation where you can bang people, but you also want to have the ability where you can stretch the floor especially with the players we have now on the perimeter with John and Bradley. We need to continue to see if we can add a piece to this team, whether that’s through picking up a free agent or a trade or making a move like that,” he added. “I don’t think we’re going to relax now and we shouldn’t.”Prior to the draft, Grunfeld said the Wizards might already have a player capable of being a “stretch four” already on the roster. The summer league will serve as an important time for both Vesely and Singleton to distinguish themselves as they head into possibly their final seasons in Washington. The Wizards also have the expiring contracts of Okafor ($14.5 million) and Ariza ($7.7 million) to use as trade chips for possible upgrades, as well.”
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Dan Malone just finished his third year as 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.