Leave it to the NBA’s reigning Executive of the Year to upstage Kobe Bryant’s return.
Going into the Raptors’ game with the Lakers in the Staples Center, all the buzz was (rightfully) on Black Mamba’s return from a torn Achilles, but with the Raps shedding Rudy Gay’s contract, it seems like Kobe’s return has been kind of pushed to a side burner for now. Not the back burner, but it’s not all that’s getting talked about.
Which, quite honestly, is what I thought today’s blog would be.
Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shoutout to the Knicks for getting demolished by the Celtics. That’ll shift the spotlight a little as well.
Let’s start off the blog with some Knicks news. That means a bit of a down note. I’m sorry. Unless you hate the Knicks. In that case, you’re welcome.
Okay, now I’ll get to it for real. Here’s the latest from around the NBA:
There’s no easy escape hatch for the Knicks, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe: “All was well for one night in New York, but this team still has a plethora of issues as the organization attempts to determine its long-term future. Firstly, Anthony has already said he will opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer, putting his Knicks’ status in limbo. Secondly, the Knicks are devoid of draft picks, meaning they have little to offer teams in trades, besides inconsistent Iman Shumpert. The rumor that the Knicks approached the Celtics about Rajon Rondo and offered Shumpert caused laughter among the Boston brass because the Celtics want first-round picks, especially if they are to deal with a division rival. The Knicks traded their 2014 first-round pick to Denver in the Anthony deal, agreed to potentially swap picks with the Nuggets in 2016, and if they do get Denver’s pick in ’16, it goes to Toronto in the Andrea Bargnani deal.”-
Overheard in the MSG pressroom: “The best coach in the league coaches up in Boston. Stevens just out-coached Woodson. He just killed him.”
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) December 8, 2013
- The Nets aren’t what you’d call “good” right now, but they got one piece of good news. Here’s the New York Post’s Tim Bontemps: “In the midst of so much bad news, the Nets continue to get positive feedback about the potential return of Deron Williams from his sprained left ankle. The star point guard, who sat out of his ninth straight game and his 11th in the Nets’ last 12 as the Nets topped the Bucks, 90-82 Saturday night, worked out after the team’s morning shootaround and remains on track, barring a setback, to return to the lineup Tuesday in Brooklyn against the Celtics. “From what I understand I guess he’s still on track to do that,” coach Jason Kidd said. Williams was set to work out Saturday, with an eye on returning to practice Monday and playing Tuesday, in what would give the Nets a badly needed boost, considering they’ve lost 12 of their last 16 games.”
Okay, now it’s time to talk more about that Raptors/Kings trade. Here’s Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun: “In a midweek interview on TSN radio this week, Ujiri spoke to the duplication of skill sets on his roster being a concern. While not naming names, anyone who has followed the Raptors for any time at all this year knew he was talking about Gay and DeMar DeRozan. But finding a taker for Gay’s salary — if he opts into his final year, the Kings are on the hook for almost $37-million — was thought to be next to impossible. Gay was not expected to join the Raptors at the arena. He learned of the trade before the team bus left for the Staples Center. With three bodies going out and four coming back, the expectation is the Raptors will have to waive a player in order for the deal to go through. In return, Vasquez gives the Raptors a pick-and-roll point guard, something they have not had all season despite carrying four point guards.”-
Would expect a Lowry trade to come in next few weeks. Someone needs to be cut before that though. Augustin most likely
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) December 9, 2013
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Only guaranteed $ Raps have in ’15 in deal is Hayes ($5.9M). Can clear $14.5M by declining options/qualifying offers 4 PP, Vasquez, Salmons.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) December 9, 2013
If the Raptors or Kings don’t make another move, the next player to get dealt could still be Omer Asik. ESPN.com’s Marc Stein has the latest on the market for the Rockets’ disgruntled center: “Keep your eye on Philadelphia. Front-runner would be overstating it, but the notion that the Sixers are a viable destination for Asik is increasingly making the rounds. And that certainly makes sense given (A) Philly’s front office is run by a certified Asik fan in former Rockets exec Sam Hinkie and (B) Philly has a frontcourt player to send back to Houston in Thaddeus Young, whose skill set can click with Dwight Howard’s, albeit not as well as seemingly unattainable dream target Ryan Anderson; and (C) there really isn’t an Asik for Philly to draft with the high pick it’s likely to snag in the 2014 lottery. Can’t imagine this is an absolute stance if Houston is really after the best trade it can find this month, but I’m told those rumbles you’ve heard about the Rockets preferring to ship Asik to the Eastern Conference are indeed true. For all of his offensive shortcomings, Asik is precisely the sort of defensive center who can really bother Howard one-on-one.”-
I think its time we put Kansas freshman 7-footer Joel Embiid in the discussion for the No. 1 overall pick.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) December 7, 2013
Things aren’t looking rosy for Steve Nash, reports Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News: “In what he’s described as a “horrible 18 months for me,” Steve Nash offered no clarity on when that will all end. The 39-year-old point guard revealed he had hoped earlier this week he would heal the nerve issues in back enough to return when the Lakers played Friday against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. But Nash said “calmer heads prevailed” and opted for a more conservative approach to ensure he wouldn’t “risk this kind of yo-yo season.” The persisting nerve pain in Nash’s back prompted Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni to practice him this week for three consecutive days for only about 15 minutes each. Nash also sounds unsure whether he will play when the Lakers host the Toronto Raptors Sunday at Staples Center, let alone when he’ll increase his practice workload. “I might not be able to play anymore,” Nash said. “I might have to yo-yo it. I might be able to play the rest of the way. Honestly right now, I’m trying to see if I can play the rest of the way.””-
Joakim Noah: “We sucked. We’ll do better next game.” End of interview.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) December 8, 2013
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Dan Malone is in his fourth year as a journalism student at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and spent this summer as a features intern at the Cape Cod Times. He blogs, edits and learns things on the fly for Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on Twitter.