Keeping Draymond Green a priority for Warriors

Draymond Green presumably hopes to stay with Golden State. They certainly hope to keep him. With NBA free agent negotiations kicking off at midnight tonight, here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting:

draymond green

Draymond Green said he would like to remain in Oakland with the only team he has played for in the NBA, but other teams are still showing interest in the forward.

As NBA free agency was set to commence late Tuesday, the Warriors’ power forwards were their focal points.

Golden State’s top priority this summer is to re-sign restricted free agent Draymond Green, and the franchise would also like to offload David Lee and the nearly $15.5 million he’s owed for the 2015-16 season.

Lee has been one of the central figures in the Warriors’ culture change since his 2010 sign-and-trade acquisition — from seeing the team off with baked goods before his elbow surgery that November to picking up most of the tab for a team-wide Las Vegas getaway last weekend.

When he missed the beginning of the 2014-15 season with a strained hamstring and watched Green take a stranglehold on the starting power-forward spot during the team’s 21-2 run, Lee was a true professional in taking a backseat.

Thunder trade Luke Ridnour to Raptors

It’s happened again.

IT’S HAPPENED AGAIN.

Veteran NBA guard Luke Ridnour has been traded yet again.

luke ridnour traded

The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired a trade exception and the rights to forward Tomislav Zubcic from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Ridnour and cash considerations, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

The Thunder will have one year from today to exercise the trade exception.

Mike Miller exercises player option for Cavs

Mike Miller exercises player option for 2015-16 season

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Mike Miller has exercised his player option for the 2015-16 season, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

A 15-year NBA veteran, Miller (6-8, 218) has played in 965 games (568 starts) with averages of 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 28.3 minutes per game. He holds career shooting percentages of .460 from the field, .407 from the three-point line and .769 from the free throw line. His 1,563 three-pointers rank 18th all-time in NBA history. This past season, the 35-year-old appeared in 52 games (15 starts) for the Cavaliers and averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game.

Miller has also appeared in 94 postseason contests (21 starts), winning two championships and averaging 4.9 points, including a .394 clip from beyond the arc, and 2.5 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game.

He wasn’t used much by the team last season, and may have an even smaller role in 2015-16 if the team can improve its bench a bit.

At this point in his career, Miller’s main role is to come off the bench and try to hit some three-pointers while playing limited minutes.

 

Magic extend qualifying offer to Kyle O`Quinn

Orlando Magic qualifying offer Kyle O’Quinn

The Orlando Magic have extended a qualifying offer to forward/center Kyle O’Quinn, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

By extending a qualifying offer to O’Quinn prior to the June 30 deadline, Orlando owns the right to match any offer sheet he may sign with another team. O’Quinn will become a restricted free agent on July 1.

O’Quinn played in 51 games (17 starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 5.8 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 16.2 minpg. He led (or tied) the team in rebounding three times and in assists twice. O’Quinn scored in double figures ten times, including a season-high 21 points on Dec. 2 @ Golden State. He pulled down 10+ rebounds three times and recorded three double-doubles.

Originally selected by Orlando in the second round (49th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, O’Quinn has appeared in 177 career NBA regular season games (41 starts), all with Orlando, averaging 5.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 15.0 minpg., while shooting .501 (406-810) from the floor.

Cavs extend qualifying offers to Matthew Dellavedova, Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson

The Cleveland Cavaliers have extended qualifying offers to guard Matthew Dellavedova, guard Iman Shumpert and forward/center Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

By extending qualifying offers, the Cavaliers will have a right of first refusal for these players should they receive an offer sheet from another team.

Dellavedova played in 67 games (13 starts) in the 2014-15 regular season, averaging 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 20.6 minutes He shot a career-high .407 from the three-point line and .763 from the free throw line. He appeared in all 20 games (seven starts) in the 2015 Playoffs and averaged 7.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24.9 minutes per game.

Shumpert appeared in 62 games (25 starts) for the Cavs and New York Knicks in the 2014-15 regular season. He averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.9 minutes per game. In 38 regular season games (one start) with the Cavs, Shumpert averaged 7.2 points 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.2 minutes per game. In the 2015 playoffs, he appeared in all 20 games (16 starts), averaging 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 34.8 minutes per game.

Thompson played in all 82 games (15 starts) in the 2014-15 regular season, finishing with averages of 8.5 points on .547 shooting, and 8.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game. For the 2015 playoffs, he played in all 20 games (15 starts), averaging 9.6 points on .558 shooting, and 10.8 rebounds in 36.4 minutes per game.

Thunder hire Monty Williams, Maurice Cheeks and Anthony Grant as assistant coaches

The Oklahoma City Thunder has named Monty Williams, Maurice Cheeks and Anthony Grant as assistant coaches and Billy Schmidt as quality control coach, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. They join Mark Bryant and Darko Rajakovic as assistants on Head Coach Billy Donovan’s bench, along with shooting coach Adam Harrington and Vin Bhavnani, who will return as manager of advance scouting/player development.

“I’m really excited about the vast experience that this staff will bring to our team,” Donovan said. “The opportunity to bring these coaches together will help us work towards our goal of having a defensive identity, sharing the ball and playing efficiently on both ends. The group delivers an incredible set of individual skills, knowledge and background to the table, and I believe that the impact of their collective efforts will be very beneficial as we continue to build the tradition of the Thunder.”

Williams joins the Thunder after spending five seasons as the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans from 2010-2015. This past year, he guided the Pelicans to their first playoff berth since the 2010-11 season. Prior to his time in New Orleans, he spent five seasons as an assistant coach on the Portland Trail Blazers’ bench and one season as a coaching staff intern with the San Antonio Spurs where he earned a championship ring with the 2005 championship squad. Additionally, Williams serves as an assistant coach with the USA Men’s National Team.

The 24th overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, Williams averaged 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 16.7 minutes in 456 games over nine seasons with New York, San Antonio, Denver, Orlando and Philadelphia.

Cheeks, who spent four seasons on the Thunder bench from 2009-2013, returns to Oklahoma City after serving as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons during the 2013-14 season. Overall, he has amassed a head coaching record of 305-315 (.492) with the Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers (2005-2008) and Portland Trail Blazers (2001-2005). Cheeks was also an assistant coach with the 76ers from 1994-2001.

A 15-year NBA veteran, Cheeks retired from the NBA as its all-time leader in steals after playing with Philadelphia, San Antonio, New York, Atlanta and New Jersey. He helped lead the 76ers to the 1983 NBA Championship and his teams went to the playoffs in 13 of his 15 seasons. The Chicago native was a four-time All-Star and appeared on the NBA’s All-Defensive team five times.

Grant arrives in Oklahoma City after serving as the head coach of the University of Alabama’s men’s basketball program from 2009-2015. In his six seasons in Tuscaloosa, Grant amassed a record of 117-85 (.579) while guiding the Crimson Tide to the 2012 NCAA tournament, their first tournament berth since the 2006 season. Before that, he spent three seasons as the head coach of the Virginia Commonwealth University’s men’s basketball team. During his time at the helm, the Rams went 76-25 (.752) and won three consecutive Colonial Athletic Association Championships.

From 1996-2006, Grant served as an assistant coach under Billy Donovan at the University of Florida. During his 10-year stint in Gainesville, the Gators amassed a record of 226-98 (.698) and reached the NCAA tournament in eight consecutive seasons, capped by their national title in 2006. He has also served as an assistant at Marshall University and Stetson University.

Schmidt comes to the Thunder after spending last season as the assistant to the head coach at the University of Florida under Donovan. Prior to that, Schmidt was an assistant coach at Georgia Tech for three seasons (2011-2014) and spent eight seasons at the University of Dayton (2004-2011). Additionally, he has worked on the men’s basketball staff’s at the University of Michigan, Seton Hall University, Northwestern University and the University of Tennessee.

After graduating with honors from Wake Forest in 1992, Schmidt began his coaching career at Oak Hill Academy, serving as an assistant coach to Steve Smith. During his two year stay at Oak Hill Academy, his teams won back-to-back national championships.

Nets waive Darius Morris

nets waive darius morris

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Darius Morris, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Morris, who was originally signed as a free agent by the Nets on December 11, 2014, appeared in 38 games with Brooklyn during the 2014-15 season, averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 assists in 7.9 minutes per game. The 41st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Morris has appeared in 132 career games (17 starts) with Brooklyn, Memphis, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia and the Lakers, posting averages of 3.3 points and 1.4 assists in 11.1 minutes per game.

Luol Deng exercises Heat player option

luol deng

The Miami HEAT announced today that Luol Deng has exercised his player option for the 2015-16 season.

Deng spent last season with Miami appearing in 72 games (all starts) averaging 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 33.6 minutes while shooting 46.9 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from three-point range and 76.1 percent from the foul line. He led the HEAT in starts, minutes played and three-point field goals made while finishing second on the team in double-figure scoring efforts, field goals made, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and total rebounds. He scored in double-figures on 54 occasions, including 12 games with at least 20 points and one 30-point performance and topped Miami in scoring 10 times, in minutes 18 times, in steals on 14 occasions, in rebounds seven times, in blocks six times and in assists in four contests. He posted the first 25-8-8 game of his career after totaling 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 101-91 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day.

Last season, the two-time NBA All-Star scored his 11,000th career point vs. Milwaukee on November 16, recorded his 700th career steal at Memphis on December 7, played in his 700th career game at Brooklyn on December 16 and made his 700th career start vs. Charlotte on April 7. The 11-year NBA veteran has now appeared in 749 career games (703 starts) and averaged 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.00 steals and 35.6 minutes while shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 77.2 percent from the foul line.

Kirk Hinrich exercises player option for Bulls 2015-16 season

Kirk Hinrich exercises player option for Bulls 2015-16 season

The Chicago Bulls announced today that guard Kirk Hinrich has exercised his player option for the 2015-16 season.

A 12-year veteran of the NBA, the 34-year old Hinrich (6-4, 190) has played in 833 (658 starts) regular-season games and averaged 11.4 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 rpg and 1.15 spg in 31.7 mpg. He owns career shooting averages of .412 from the field, .375 from downtown and .799 from the line. Hinrich has also appeared in 65 (46 starts) NBA playoff games where he has posted 11.4 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.14 spg, 30.5 mpg and shot .430 from the field, .408 from behind the arc and .744 from the stripe.

Paul Pierce to enter free agency

It’s very possible that Paul Pierce is gone from DC

Free agent negotiations begin Wednesday, and the Washington Wizards must deal with possibly losing veteran forward Paul Pierce. Here’s CSN Washington reporting:

Paul Pierce to enter free agency

With the Wizards now knowing for certain that Paul Pierce will opt out of the second year of his contract, they’ll proceed as if he’s not returning and secure a replacement (It may be a longshot but he still could re-sign here and get 120% of last season’s $5.5 million salary).

They don’t have any room under the salary cap so free agents such as DeMarre Carroll or Khris Middleton, blossoming, younger small forwards on the market who are in line for career paydays, are out of the question. The Wizards would have to acquire players of that caliber through a sign-and-trade but don’t have the assets to facilitate such a deal.

They have to make it work with two salary-cap exceptions at their disposal: Mid-level of just more than $5 million (used to sign Pierce) and the bi-annual exception of just more than $2 million (used two seasons ago to sign Eric Maynor).

In regular game situations, Pierce, well past his prime at this point, is replaceable. But as he showed in the playoffs, when clutch shots need to be hit, Pierce is as good as anyone in the league.