'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 42

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4499

Detroit Pistons coaching search
The AP reports: The Detroit Pistons don’t plan to wait long to name a replacement for fired coach Michael Curry. Joe Dumars, the Pistons’ president for basketball operations, doesn’t have a “complete list” of candidates but wants to act in less than a week, before next Tuesday’s opening practice for the NBA developmental league. “My goal is to have a head coach in place by the time we go out to Las Vegas,” Dumars said in a video posted on the team’s Web site. The NBA Summer League runs July 10-19.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4493

Utah Jazz sign first round draft pick Eric Maynor
Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has signed guard Eric Maynor, the Jazz’s first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.

Maynor is expected to participate in the Jazz’s mini-camp in preparation for the 2009 Orlando Pro Summer League. Camp is scheduled to open today at RDV SportsPlex in Maitland, Fla., and will run through Sunday, July 5. Maynor will then make his professional debut when the Jazz opens its Orlando Pro Summer League schedule vs. Boston at 5 p.m. MT on July 6.

Maynor (6-3, 175, Virginia Commonwealth) was named the 2008-09 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year, taking home the award for the second straight season. The 22-year-old point guard also received Sports Illustrated All-America Second Team and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America honors and was named VaSID State Player of the Year and Richmond Times Dispatch State Player of the Year. A finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, Maynor led the CAA for the third consecutive season in assists per game (6.2) while also leading the league as a senior in scoring per game (22.4).

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4491

JR Smith sentenced to 90 days in jail
The AP reports: A judge sentenced Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith to 90 days in jail Tuesday night for causing an auto accident that killed his friend, though Smith will likely end up serving only 30. Municipal Judge Debra J. Gelson suspended 60 days of the sentence providing Smith performs 500 hours of community service consisting of visiting sick children at hospitals.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4492

Mehmet Okur staying with Utah Jazz for 2009-10 NBA season
Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur announced today he has elected to remain with the franchise for the 2009-10 season, and is declining to exercise his early termination option. “We are looking forward to Memo’s return,” said Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “He has clearly been an integral part of our success since his arrival and we are hopeful that he will continue to perform at such a high level in the future.”

Okur (6-11, 263, Turkey), appeared in 72 games (all starts) for the Jazz in 2008-09, averaging 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 33.5 minutes per game. A seven-year NBA veteran, Okur finished the season second on the Jazz in points and second in total rebounds.

Originally signed by the Jazz as a free-agent on July 27, 2004, Okur has appeared in 388 out of a possible 410 regular season games with the Jazz over the past five seasons, averaging 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game. A 2007 NBA All-Star, Okur owns the single-season Jazz record for most three-pointers made and attempted (129-336) in a season (2006-07), and ranks fourth on the franchise’s all-time list for three-pointers attempted (1129) and fifth for three-pointers made (430).

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4498

Report: Detroit Pistons, Ben Gordon agree to deal
The Detroit Pistons already have a great shooting guard in Richard Hamilton and a decent young guard in Rodney Stuckey, but they’re reportedly about to add some potent scoring ability to their backcourt. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo reports that, according to a source, the team has reached an agreement with free-agent guard Ben Gordon on a five-year contract worth around $55 million.

Last season Gordon averaged 20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 45.5% shooting (41.0% three-pointers) per game for the Bulls. He’s played for Chicago since entering the NBA in the 2004-05 season. If the Pistons were to play small-ball, with Stuckey at point, Gordon at shooting guard and Hamilton at small forward, it would be one of the most undersized lineups in the league. Gordon is very strong, but has the height of a point guard. Hamilton is a very thin two-guard. So should the team put Gordon at the point, even though he’s definitely not a true floor general?

It’s also possible that Gordon is used as a scorer off the bench, similarly to how the Chicago Bulls used him for much of his time there. But generally, when a team pays a player $11 million per season, they expect the player to start. Tough to say how Gordon will fit next to Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. The team is reportedly also trying to add free agent power forward Charlie Villanueva, among others.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13153

Zach Randolph Unofficially to Memphis
HOOPSWORLD has learned that the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to a deal sending forward Zach Randolph to Memphis for former Clipper Quentin Richardson. Because of the July moratorium, the deal cannot be officially announced until July 8th.

The Clippers acquired Randolph last season midseason for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas from the New York Knicks. Richardson was traded from the Knicks to the Grizzlies on draft night for Darko Milicic. Quentin is in the final year of his contract, making $8.7 million. Randolph is set to earn $16 million this coming season and an additional $17.3 million the next.Because the Grizzlies are under the salary cap, the trade is legal despite the salaries not matching. L.A. saves $24.6 million in the deal, gaining a trade exception of approximately $7.4 million. By shaving off Randolph's $17.3 million, the Clippers stand to have approximately $39 million against the cap in the summer of 2010. If the cap comes in as low as $56 million, L.A. stands to have $17 million in spending power.

Along with veterans Baron Davis and Chris Kaman, the Clippers would boast a young core of Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Al Thornton, Mike Taylor and DeAndre Jordan. L.A. could be a viable destination for one of the big name free agents of 2010. Meanwhile the Grizzlies will still cap flexibility this summer should they buy-out Greg Buckner for $2 million and renounce the rights (and revoke the offer sheet) to Hakim Warrick. While the cap hasn't officially been announced, Memphis would have roughly $11 million left to spend. The Grizzlies will add Randolph to their core of O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Hasheem Thabeet. Even with Zach's massive 2010 salary, the Grizzlies still could have cap space depending on a prospective extension for Gay. In addition to the Clippers' financial savings, moving Randolph opens the door for top draft pick Blake Griffin. L.A. also adds an up-tempo small forward in Richardson.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13148

If Gordon in Detroit – Then What About Rip? With the rumors hot and heavy that Chicago Bulls free agent guard Ben Gordon is on the verge of an agreement with the Detroit Pistons, you have to ask: What does this mean to Rip Hamilton? The short answer is it probably means he gets traded. While many have pointed out that Hamilton and Coach Michael Curry didn't see eye-to-eye on things, it's also worth noting Hamilton was less than happy (to put it mildly) when Chauncey Billups was traded to Denver last fall. Of course, Hamilton also signed a three-year extension at $12.5 million per that kicks in next year – which he may not have signed if he knew Billups was leaving. If the Pistons do bring in Gordon, it will be to play shooting guard next to point Rodney Stuckey. At the dollars it will cost to sign him, he won't be coming off the bench, and it makes little sense to bring Rip – who will be more expensive – off the bench as well. So, that only points to the fact the Pistons are going to be even more active after they spend their cap space (reportedly after Charlie Villanueva or Hedo Turkoglu as well) because they will need to make trades.

It also looks like the Pistons won't be getting a true power player in free agency, with Villanueva being more of a hybrid type, close to an Antawn Jamison-styled forward (that's hardly a perfect comparison, but the point is he is more Jamison than someone like Paul Millsap). So what do you do with Hamilton? Where does he make a good fit? Utah might be one place. Coach Jerry Sloan would likely get along well with Hamilton, but for a team facing the luxury tax already that might be a tough sell. They could trade Carlos Boozer and cut a million off the cap, but that would basically mean they would have to match any offer Millsap gets as a restricted free agent. It would also mean adding the $37 million on Hamilton's contract for the three years following 2009-10, plus whatever Millsap ends up making. Add to that, the Jazz will also have to decide what to do with Memo Okur next summer, when he will be an unrestricted free agent. As of today, the Jazz look to have plenty of cap space in the summer of 2010 with only $38 million committed, but add a couple first round picks, Millsap's deal, and then add in Hamilton and Okur and they'll be over the cap again.

If the Jazz are sure this is the kind of team that would work, they should think it over – that's a big if though. For the Pistons Boozer may not be their best option, but it might be worth it for a season even he leaves as an unrestricted free agent next summer because it clears off the long-term debt of Hamilton's contract. They may have other suitors if they want to trade Hamilton though. He could fit with the Dallas Mavericks, possibly, (perhaps for Josh Howard?) if the Mavs lose Jason Kidd, plus there are a few other teams that wouldn't mind a reliable scorer like Rip Hamilton on their wings. Whether this or any other scenario plays out for the Pistons, it's quite obvious that signing a couple free agents and getting a new head coach isn't all Joe Dumars has on his plate this summer. Those moves could just be the groundwork for the next ones.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13148

Hedo Must Like What He Hears: Whatever the Portland Trail Blazers are telling Orlando Magic free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu, it must sound good to him. Fresh off the news that Portland hit up Turkoglu's agent at the earliest possible moment, ESPN's Marc Stein is reporting the courtship is being taken to the next level.

According to Stein, Portland head coach Nate McMillan is on a plane to Orlando to have a sit-down dinner with Turkoglu tonight, and then everyone will fly to Portland in the morning for more chats and a tour of the Blazers' practice facility a few miles southwest of the city. Will the Blazers convince Turkoglu they have the right place for him to sign what is likely to be his final big contract of his career? Both sides must be on the same page so far, since all of this likely leaves little room for Turkoglu to get the hard sell from anyone else (namely the Detroit Pistons, who were also linked to him initially).

Word from sources close to the Blazers is that if the team does sign Turkoglu the deal won't be for the widely reported number of $10 million per season – no word on what it would actually be.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=19310

Pistons agree to deals with Gordon, Villanueva
A person with the knowledge of the negotiations says the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle to contracts with free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday night on the condition of anonymity because NBA rules prohibit teams from announcing free agent signings until next week.

Gordon, the third pick in the 2004 draft by the Chicago Bulls, agreed to a 5-year deal for at least $50 million. He was the Bulls' top scorer the past four years and became an unrestricted free agent after the season. Chicago officials had said bringing him back next year was a top priority.The 26-year-old Gordon averaged 20.7 points during the regular season before scoring 24.3 points during the playoffs when the Bulls lost to the Celtics in seven games.

Villanueva, the seventh overall pick by Toronto in 2005 who has played the last three of his NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks, also agreed to a five-year deal. His contract is worth at least $35 million. Villanueva averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Bucks.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=19309

Dumars says he wants new coach by next Tuesday
Detroit Pistons executive Joe Dumars says he wants to name a replacement for fired coach Michael Curry in time for next week's developmental league opening in Las Vegas.

The Pistons' president for basketball operations announced Curry's dismissal Tuesday. The first-year coach led the Pistons to a 39-43 regular-season record and a four-straight-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. In a video on the Pistons' Web site, Dumars says Detroit needs a more experienced coach as it moves to integrate new players with remaining veterans.

He says he doesn't have "a complete list" of candidates yet but hopes to act before the team heads for Las Vegas Tuesday. The NBA Summer League runs July 10-19.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=19297

Source: Pistons meet with Bulls' Ben Gordon
Sharp-shooting Bulls guard Ben Gordon was in Michigan on Wednesday for talks with the Detroit Pistons about joining the team, The Associated Press has learned. Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg declined comment on Gordon's situation, citing an NBA moratorium on discussing free-agent matters. But a person close to the talks said Gordon was meeting with Joe Dumars, Detroit's president for basketball operations. The person declined to be identified because the talks are private. Grigg wouldn't confirm whether Gordon's ex-Connecticut teammate, Charlie Villanueva, also was meeting Dumars on Wednesday. The Milwaukee Bucks player also is a free agent. Villanueva is believed to be high on the wish list of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who embarrassed the Pistons by sweeping them in the opening round of the playoffs. Villanueva's agents declined comment.

Gordon was the Bulls' top scorer the past four years and became an unrestricted free agent after the season. Chicago officials had said bringing him back next year was a top priority.The Bulls drafted Gordon with the third pick in 2004. "I know what I have here" in Chicago, Gordon said in May. "I love all my teammates. I love this city. So I definitely, in an ideal world, would like to be back here. That's the way I felt the last two summers and (a long-term contract) hasn't happened." As a restricted free agent last summer, Gordon found few options and accepted the Bulls' $6.4 million tender offer just before the deadline in early October.

The Pistons are in a good position to improve their lineup for the coming season with about $20 million under the salary cap to work with, to say nothing about four of the first 44 picks in the NBA draft. "We're definitely in the mode of reshaping our roster," Dumars said last week. "We need to add about three or four talented players by drafting them, signing them or trading for them." The meeting with Gordon comes one day after Dumars announced the firing of first-year coach Michael Curry. The two played together at Detroit, but that wasn't enough to save Curry's job after he led the team to a 39-43 regular-season record and four lopsided playoff losses to the Cavaliers after six straight Eastern Conference finals appearances.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Report: Pistons Get Gordon, Villanueva
The Detroit Pistons made the biggest early splash in free agency on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Former Bulls guard Gordon will receive a five-year, $55 million deal, while former Bucks forward Villanueva gets a five-year deal for $35 million, sources told ESPN.com's Chris Broussard.

Gordon rejected deals from Chicago in excess of $50 million each of the past two seasons.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Taco Bell Replaces McDonald's as NBA Sponsor
The NBA is thinking outside the bun. Taco Bell has signed on as the league's new official QSR in a four-year deal. The deal ends McDonald's run as the NBA's official fast-food sponsor, which began in '90. Industry sources said the deal includes a heavy media component on NBA rightsholders ABC, ESPN and TNT, themed promos at the chain's 5,600 restaurants, themed advertising, title to the All-Star Saturday Night Skills Challenge and an associate sponsorship of the NBA's Jam Session All-Star Game Fan Fest.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Ainge Literally Knocking at Wallace's Door
Sources say Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge and assistant director of basketball operations Leo Papile showed up on Rasheed Wallace’s doorstep just after midnight Wednesday to make their recruiting push.

“I know he is definitely considering playing for them,” one league source said.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Gordon, Villanueva Motown-Bound?
Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon(notes) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva(notes) flew to Detroit on Wednesday morning for a mid-day meeting with team president Joe Dumars and indications are both are moving rapidly toward deals with the Detroit Pistons, league and sources close to the two players told Yahoo! Sports.

Gordon and Villanueva, both unrestricted free agents, would be significant strikes on the first full day of NBA free agency.

Gordon and Villanueva played one season together at the University of Connecticut, and are good friends. The Pistons have nearly $20 million in salary-cap space and it’s thought that the offers to these two players would come close to expending that money.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13146

Hedo Has Suitors: One of the first phone calls made last night from Portland was not to Andre Miller, although sources say he was called. The first call was to Magic free agent Hedo Turkoglu. "Kevin Pritchard and Tom Penn called me at the earliest possible moment and expressed enthusiasm for engaging in discussions about Hedo becoming a Trail Blazer," Turkoglu's agent Lon Babby said last night to Jason Quick of the Oregonian. "We have begun that process." "They were enthusiastic and well received by us," Babby said. "We are engaged in the process. We will see where that takes us in the next couple of days and take it from there."

Turkoglu is also said to be the top name on the Detroit Pistons' free agent board and it seems the Blazers and Pistons may have to slug it out for Hedo's services. One thing is becoming clear as this process unfolds, Hedo's price tag will be more than Orlando wants to match, the question becomes which teams has players the Magic would want back in a sign and trade?

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13150

Oberto And The Rockets?
The Detroit Pistons waived center Fabricio Oberto this afternoon. Oberto was acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks in which the Pistons shipped out Amir Johnson. Oberto could get some attention from the suddenly-shorthanded Houston Rockets, who have the other half of Oberto's national team front line already under contract in Luis Scola. Don't be surprised if Oberto's camp reaches out to the Rockets, who could reunite the duo from Argentina's team.

The Rockets are interested in Marcin Gortat being their starter, but are also well aware of the chemistry between Scola and Oberto. Oberto would be a solid back-up to Gortat and could help put the Rockets right back in the thick of the Western Conference Finals chase. The word is Orlando might consider a sign-and-trade for one of Houston's power forwards, and the Rockets have had Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes on the table at various times over the last year. Seems like something could happen there to help alleviate Houston's dire need at center.

Right now Houston is focused on signing a center, and they haven't started looking at trades yet. Still, there are certainly some options out there, and the future looks a lot brighter than it did 48 hours ago.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13150

The Boston Celtics would like to think they're the frontrunners in the Rasheed Wallace Sweepstakes, but the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and others have reached out to the Detroit Pistons' free agent. Kevin Garnett made a direct appeal to Wallace on behalf of the Celtics, but the temptation to join what looks like a championship team in San Antonio could be even greater than the lure of the Celtics' historic franchise.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13146

Sheed Has Suitors: Unrestricted free agent Rasheed Wallace was going to be selective and take his time, that's what sources close to him have said for the last week, that did not stop several teams from trying to get a deal done late last night and the Cavaliers, Spurs and Celtics were among the initial suitors. The biggest news was how hard Kevin Garnett has pushed for Rasheed not only within the Celtics organization but getting on the phone to try and sway Rasheed to Beantown. The Celtics apparently will make a sizable offer for Rasheed using their median exception, the question remains will he pick Boston or saddle up in San Antonio or Cleveland? Stay tuned.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13146

From Players To Tax Payers: Two days ago the Utah Jazz were looking at cap space and free agent possibilities, today they are looking at the NBA Luxury Tax and that's before dealing with restricted free agent Paul Millsap. The decisions by Kyle Korver, Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer to stay in their current deals was a surprise and now it puts Utah in a corner with regards to Millsap who is likely going to command upwards of $8 million per season, which the Jazz can match, but will now cost them a dollar for dollar penalty making retaining him somewhat of a challenge. The Jazz may consider trade offers on Carlos Boozer, but Jazz sources yesterday said they had not seriously considered all three staying and would be re-working their game plan, although Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said yesterday he'd briefed his owners on every scenario, scenarios that now include other teams coming harder at Millsap. "Now that they know that they don't really have that amount of money, they're going to be more aggressive, in my opinion," Millsap's agent, DeAngelo Simmons said to the Salt Lake Tribune's Ross Siler.

The Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder are believed to be the top suitors for Millsap and both can offer contracts in excess of $8 million per season, before talking sign and trade, the final decision for the Jazz will come down to how much Luxury Tax will they pay for one season? "It's like I said before: If we need to go into the luxury tax to protect our players, protect our team, keep our team intact, we'd have to take a look at that," Jazz CEO Greg Miller said.