The Dallas Mavericks will start the new season by parting ways with their GM: “Sources briefed on the situation told ESPN.com that the abrupt parting was triggered by the fact that Rosas — hired by the Mavericks to work in support of longtime president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson — wanted to be “in charge” of basketball operations. Concerns about how Rosas would fit into the Mavericks’ front-office structure in a supplementary role to Nelson, sources said, surfaced almost immediately after Rosas’ arrival in late July.”
“I made the personal decision to resign as general manager of the Dallas Mavericks after determining that the position was not the best fit for me at this point in my career,” Rosas said in a statement released by the team. “The decision was made solely by me, as I firmly believe this change is in my best interest.
“Mark Cuban asked me to reconsider my decision, but graciously accepted my decision and we part as friends. I would like to thank Mark and the Dallas Mavericks for the opportunity.”
Al Jefferson would like to play through pain for the Charlotte Bobcats: “Center Al Jefferson experienced some pain and stiffness in his sprained right ankle at practice Tuesday, so the Charlotte Bobcats will continue to list him as questionable for the opener Wednesday in Houston against the Rockets. “I think I can play,” Jefferson said, his ankle wrapped in ice. “I’m not going to be 100 percent pain-free. But I can tolerate a little pain.” Jefferson sprained his ankle Oct. 11 in an exhibition against the Miami Heat. He missed the remaining six exhibitions and just started practicing Sunday. The Bobcats could obviously use Jefferson, one of the NBA’s top low-post scorers, in a matchup with new Rocket Dwight Howard, a three-time defense player of the year. Howard signed with Houston over the summer, as Jefferson did with the Bobcats.”
The Suns are having a hard time determining the value of Eric Bledsoe: “With the roster and contract options settled, Bledsoe’s extension talks are the most pressing item on the Suns front office’s October to-do list. The “to-do” is whether to do it or not. The Suns valued Bledsoe enough to be the aggressor and architect of a July three-team trade obtaining him. Making a long-term commitment to Bledsoe at an annual eight-figure salary would be a deeper pledge to potential. Bledsoe has not established himself to the level of a “designated player,” a title that each team can use once during the collective-bargaining agreement to give a five-year extension. A four-year extension should suit Bledsoe, 23, who would be in his prime for the next extension. The money part is the conundrum. Bledsoe is not going to be paid based on averaging 8.5 points, 3.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game last season for the Clippers. He was All-Star Chris Paul’s backup, logging 20.4 minutes per game. It had to be a bit scary for Phoenix to see Utah reward Derrick Favors, a three-year backup like Bledsoe, with an extension worth at least $49 million over four years. Bledsoe’s other draft classmates who received extensions are incomparable in talent, results or position — Washington point guard John Wall (five years, $80 million), Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins (four years, $62 million), Indiana All-Star swingman Paul George (five years, $80-plus million) and Milwaukee center Larry Sanders (four years, $44 million).”
The Utah Jazz will exercise options on Enes Kanter and Alec Burks: “The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has elected to exercise its fourth-year team options for guard Alec Burks and center Enes Kanter. The options for both players are through the 2014-15 season. Per team policy, financial terms were not released. Burks (6-6, 205, Colorado) is entering his third NBA season after appearing in 64 games (all as a reserve) and averaging 7.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 17.8 minutes during his sophomore season for the Jazz in 2012-13. He scored in double figures on 19 occasions, including a career-high 26 points in 27 minutes at Sacramento on February 9. The 22-year-old was originally selected by the Jazz with the 12th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Burks averaged 11.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 23.9 minutes in eight preseason games for the Jazz.”
Carmelo Anthony does not plan on leaving New York. But instead, plans on recruiting other stars to the Big Apple: “TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith criticized Anthony for talking about leaving the Knicks, though he simply said he would like to experience free agency because he never has done so in his career. Anthony was asked Tuesday after practice if he’s the type of guy who would be a magnet to woo players to play with him in New York. The Knicks could have major salary-cap space in 2015. That free-agent class includes Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, David West, Brook Lopez and LeBron James (if he doesn’t opt out of his contract after the 2013-14 season).”
“I haven’t had a complaint yet in 10, 11 years in the NBA about playing with me,’’ Anthony said. “People would love to come to play in New York. When that comes, we’ll be working on that. I have a big black book, a big Rolodex. People talk about what’s going on with me in the offseason, [that] I should be getting people to come here. I am. I’m trying.’’
Marcin Gortat wants to be known as a winner, excited for a fresh start in Washington: “The timing of the trade caught Gortat off guard, too, because he assumed that he would at least make it through the first week of the regular season. The Suns planned to have Polish heritage night for their home opener on Wednesday and Gortat had flown in 25 people from his native country – including soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, the Polish minister of sport, the Polish ambassador and children from his basketball camp — for what was expected to be a fun week in Phoenix. But while they were arriving in Arizona, Gortat was catching a flight to start his new life in Washington. “They all was sitting there at a dinner and chatting about everything. I was sitting by myself in a hotel” in Washington, Gortat said, shaking his head. “So the last 24 hours have been hell. It was hard for me, at the beginning, but this is life. This is a business. The NBA is a big, big business.” Aside from the initial inconvenience, Gortat is otherwise excited about being on a team that aspires to make the playoffs rather than jockey for the NBA draft lottery. Gortat made the postseason in each of his first four seasons in the NBA with the Orlando Magic and advanced to the NBA Finals in 2009. But he has missed the playoffs the past three years in Phoenix, where the Suns won just 21 games last season.”
“I want to be a winner. I want to be known as a winner. The first four years of my career, I was spoiled, by Stan Van Gundy, winning 50-plus games in the NBA and I thought, ‘This is how it is in the NBA. You’re going to be winning 50-plus game every year,’ ” Gortat said. “But unfortunately, things didn’t go well for me in the past two or three years. It’s not easy to lose 50, 60 games a year and quite honestly, you can get tired of that.”