Cnotes National Basketball Association October Preseaon Rumors and Gossip !!

[CNOTES]

Cavaliers say they are angry over Finals loss as quest to return begins


The Cleveland Cavaliers could have won the title last year. It took a pretty stunning series of injuries to take them out of contention vs. the Warriors. They also struggled for most of the year as a young team had difficulties gelling and getting on the same page, especially with some struggles from the coaching staff.


The Cavs are back this year, and loaded. They are the runaway favorites in the Eastern Conference and picked by many to win the title. They are also, by their own words, angry. From ESPN:


"From me there's going to be a lot more rage, a lot more emotion," Cavs guard Kyrie Irving said at the team's media day Monday. "There won't be too much smiling or anything like that from our team. That's the mentality we have to have. We're looking forward to the challenge."
Irving's declaration echoed LeBron James', who is coming off the fourth Finals loss of his career. James shared how the Miami Heat's championship defeat at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 put his team in the proper mindset to take it all in 2012.
"One thing that we did that didn't even need to be talked about after we lost our first year in Miami when we came back, we was angry," James said. "We was very, very, very angry. And everybody that we went against knew it when we came back."
James said that Heat team showed its mettle from opening night, heading on the road to Dallas and leading by 32 points after three quarters while spoiling the Mavs' ring ceremony.
"That whole year, it was like, there was no wait process," James said. "We was like 'OK, we messed around, lost one, but, right now, let's not think about it, go out and we want to play to the highest of our ability every single night.'"
Source: Cleveland Cavaliers say 'rage' from Finals loss will fuel 2015-16 season.


Well, that's all well and good, but that's not really what actually happened.


James has spoken often about the summer after the Heat's loss to the Mavericks, and about how that first year the team had taken on the "black hat" and tried to embrace the role of villains after so many fans turned on the super-team that formed in free agency. James would say that the summer of 2011 was about him getting back to the joy he's always felt for the game of basketball, and about being humbled by the experience.


So really, it was the opposite of what James is talking about. That way of playing angry was what limited James in 2011, and getting away from it in 2012 opened the door to his MVP season and first NBA title.


Focus could be good for the Cavaliers, however. Too often young teams drift and take things too lightly. It would be easy to rest on their laurels and think that when healthy, they can just roll through. But the Cavs never really found their peak last season, never established an identity until they had injuries. At full strength, we still don't know who they really are. We'll get a better sense of that this season, and maybe they can channel that anger into focus to help that process along.

 

[CNOTES]

Dirk Nowitzki wants to play two more seasons, then consider retirement


After 17 NBA seasons, Dirk Nowitzki is well aware that his NBA career is coming to a close. Nowitzki made a possible tearful goodbye from the German national team this summer but he isn't planning on retiring from the Dallas Mavericks until his contract ends in 2017.


From Nowitzki's chat with reporters at media day (via Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News):


Any retirement thoughts in the back of his head as he enters this season?


"Obviously it gets closer, but it's not like I'm thinking of the beach every day. I want to play two more years under contract here, hopefully at a high level, compete, hopefully be efficient when I'm out there. And then retirement obviously comes soon enough. But as of now, I still think I can play at a high level. I'm going to work my butt off here these four weeks to get in the best shape I can get, and then leave it all out there again."


Will he wait until after his current two-year contract expires to ponder retirement?


"Obviously if you know me a little bit I'm not going to do what some of these athletes do and announce it the year before and have a farewell tour. That's the worst thing that I can think about, (have to) talk about every day. When I'm gone, I'm gone. That's how it's going to go."


Last year at 36 years old, Nowitzki had another All-Star season and averaged 17.3 points while shooting 38 percent from three-point range. While Nowitzki might have slowed down as he has gotten older, he's a vital part of the Mavs offense and is still playing at a high level. The Mavs have tried to surround Nowitzki as he has gotten older with players who can help him shoulder the load but with Wesley Matthews and Chandler Parsons expected to miss the start of the season, he will be asked to carry Dallas yet again.


If Nowitzki does choose to retire after his contract expires with Dallas, he will be considered as one of the all-time greats and should no doubt be a future Hall of Famer. Hopefully when he does retire, Nowitzki won't just be "gone" like he told reporters. He is far too entertaining to not be involved in the NBA in some fashion.

 

[CNOTES]

John Wall will help lure future free agent Kevin Durant to Wizards


Hailing from the Washington DC area, Kevin Durant is quite proud to call the nation's capitol his home. Because of this, rumors keep persisting about Durant joining his hometown Washington Wizards when he enters free agency next summer.


While the Thunder have a compelling case on why their star forward should stay, Wizards guard John Wall is going to do everything he can to make the rumors come true and get Durant to come home.


From a conversation Wall had with CSN Mid-Atlantic:


"There's going to be an opportunity to where you have an opportunity to throw a pitch at him and to try to get him to come back home. But I know one thing of just knowing him, he's really going to be very focused on taking care of Oklahoma City Thunder this season, and I'm going to be focused on taking care of the Washington Wizards. But when the time is right and he can get away from all that, yeah, we'll probably do have some conversation and throw your pitch."


This seems to be the right way for Wall to recruit Durant to the Wizards. Don't be too aggressive and pushy all year. Just focus on your own respective team and then when it makes most sense, give the hard sell. With Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards do make a compelling case for Durant, however he would be leaving a title contender in the Thunder to join them. The allure of playing in Washington could be a huge selling point though and one that the Wizards will no doubt will use when making their pitch to Durant.


The Wizards will have plenty of competition when they try to woo Durant next summer but they at least have Wall on their side. Who seems ready to help influence Durant any way he can.

 

[CNOTES]

Kobe Bryant unsure when he'll retire, but he'll retire a Laker


Monday might have been Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant's final NBA media day. Or not. He's not sure. The Black Mamba was again non-committal on whether this will be his last ride, even articulating how uncertain he is over what exactly will determine his decision to retire. From ESPN:


"If it is, it is," Bryant said. "If it isn't, I'll be ready for next season. I don't spend too much time thinking about it. I've got enough to think about."
What will be the biggest factor in his decision?
"Honestly, I don't know," Bryant said. "I've thought about it a little bit in terms of, what is the deciding factor? How do players actually know when it's time to hang them up, truly? Everybody kind of gives [the media] the standard cookie-cutter answers -- relaxing, golfing, spending time with the family, things like that. But, really, how do you truly know? And I don't know. I'll have a much better answer when that time comes for me."
Source: Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers says he has not made retirement decision.


Meanwhile, after Phil Jackson told reporters Friday that he believes this won't be Bryant's last year, but that it could be his final season with the Lakers, Bryant shut down that talk in short order with three little words, "I'm a Laker."


"A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships," Bryant told Yahoo Sports at the conclusion of the Lakers' media day on Monday.
"I'm a Laker, man. I'm a Laker for better or worse."
"I'm a Laker, man. How many times do I have to say that?" Bryant said "Dude, I bleed purple and gold."
Source: Kobe Bryant doesn't plan to play for anyone but Lakers if he continues his career - Yahoo Sports.


The idea of Bryant suiting up in a different uniform seems downright preposterous. It would damage his legacy and beyond that, at this point it's a pride issue for Bryant. Not only is he unwilling to leave Los Angeles where he was drafted, but he's also not willing to take some bench role on a contender to chase a ring. If he won't win a ring, there's no point in leaving the purple and gold.


So he might retire, he might not, but if he does retire, he's retiring as a Laker. So what's his last season going to be like? After missing three years with season ending injuries, surely he knows he has got to accept the kinds of minute restrictions the Lakers have talked about, right?


Nope.


From Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll:


"It's tough to have a number [on my minutes limit]. Last year it was somewhere between 34 and 36, this year I don't expect it to be any higher, I don't expect it to be any less. You just have to go to read the situation, we were pretty good about it last year in terms of me communicating to Byron how my body feels."
"I understand that after 20 years, and with age, and three season ending injuries in a row, that certain limitations need to be put in place in order for me to have a consistent season. So I'm comfortable with that, but I have worked extremely hard this summer to be able to play at a high level, regardless of if it's 30, if it's 48, I'm prepared to do whatever is necessary and that is my job to do so."
It doesn't mean he won't, but Kobe is also not necessarily planning on sitting out of back-to-back games.
"The goal is [to play in] 82 [games]," he said. "That's what I'm here for, that's the goal, that's what I strive for, and then obviously you can't predict what is going to happen, certain situations happen but that's always the goal."
Source: Kobe Bryant is excited about a new Lakers season and chance to mentor D'Angelo Russell - Silver Screen and Roll.


Now this, this is a fairy tale. Bryant used to be able to pull the mind-over-matter trick with his body, but the body has gotten the best of him. Players younger than Bryant need to stay below 36 minutes. It's simply not realistic that he can play that many minutes across that many games at this point in his career.


It's good to have goals and everything, but there's got to be some level of restraint by the training staff and Bryant needs to work within those boundaries. It's the only way Bryant can finish this season. Everyone wants him to go out swinging, but there's got to be consideration for making sure he's in uniform in the first place.


We'll see how it goes.

 

[CNOTES]

Offseason Report: Warriors make loud statement with quiet summer


The Golden State Warriors had a disastrous 2014-15 season, so they decided they'd tear everything down and start anew -- the coaching staff has been fired, the core has been dismantled, they even decided to overhaul their training staff.


Just kidding!


OK, so they did actually overhaul the training staff. But otherwise, this is pretty much the same team. So the only real question is: can the same team be as good?


Key Additions


Draymond Green (re-signed), Jason Thompson (trade with Sixers), Kevon Looney (draft)


Key Losses


David Lee (trade with Celtics)


***
It was a big summer for the Warriors' 2012 draft class -- did the front office handle it correctly? The jury is still out. Golden State re-signed Green for five years and $82 million, which should be considered a massive win because it's a less than a maximum contract. Green was arguably the Warriors' second-best player last season, one of the best and most versatile defenders in the league … and he's only 25 years old.


Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli are eligible for extensions up until Oct. 31, and it'd be in the organization's best interest to lock them both up. They'll be restricted free agents next July, and teams might offer them enormous offer sheets when the salary cap goes crazy. Golden State's offseason isn't quite over yet.


Barnes reportedly rejected a four-year, $64 million extension offer, which sounds a little crazy for a role player. This is a really good role player, though, and Golden State generally lets its negotiations drag on and on until the last possible second. Don't be surprised if the two sides figure something out.


Ezeli's situation is trickier. He only played 11 minutes per game in 46 appearances last season. He's also 6-foot-11 with a 7-6 wingspan, and he made 55 percent of his field goals in those 46 appearances. More important, opposing players shot 44.1 percent at the rim against him. That's a big-time rim protection. Ezeli has the potential to take over for Andrew Bogut as the Warriors' starting center one day, but they have to pay him like a starter now if they want to secure his services.


Does Jason Thompson make a difference? At the very least, he is a worthy replacement for Lee, who gracefully accepted many DNP-CDs in exchange for a championship ring. He's not on Lee's level as a playmaker, but is a much better defender and he's been "knocking down 3s like a guard" in workouts, per ESPN's Ethan Sherwood Strauss.


Thompson might be the happiest guy in the NBA. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Sacramento Kings, and the team's 29 wins last season were the most of his tenure. He was traded to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers this summer, then flipped to Golden State in exchange for Gerald Wallace's contract. What a weird offseason, and what a fantastic landing spot. As long as the Warriors are winning, don't expect him to complain about his playing time.


It's possible Thompson ends up cracking the rotation, especially if he shows off improved range in the preseason. Head coach Steve Kerr could try him at center for stretches, and he could steal some minutes from Marreese Speights. Acquiring him was wise -- you can't have too much frontcourt depth.


Are the Warriors still the favorites? The San Antonio Spurs were the big winners in free agency -- they got LaMarcus Aldridge and David West. The Los Angeles Clippers got Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith. The Houston Rockets got Ty Lawson. The Warriors didn't do anything flashy, so perhaps it's boring to pick them to repeat as champs. But yes, they should still be the favorites.


By simply re-signing their core and staying largely out of the offseason noise, the Warriors were emphatic in an old, powerful unspoken message: if it ain't broke, don't fix it -- and Golden State sure as heck ain't broke. In case anyone has forgotten, the Warriors outscored opponents by 10.1 points per game last year, and only seven other teams in NBA history have done that. Aside from the 30-year-old Bogut, no one in the starting lineup is older than 27 years old. You can picture Klay Thompson continuing to improve with the ball in his hands and drawing more fouls. You can imagine Barnes being more aggressive and Green making more of his 3-point attempts. Everybody should be a bit more familiar with each other and with what Kerr wants, so there's no reason the Warriors can't be even better than before. Continuity is nice. Having Stephen Curry is even nicer.


The only real question mark for this roster is health. Golden State was ranked first in both offensive and defensive efficiency last year, while playing at the league's fastest pace. There are no areas of weakness here, and Kerr's team proved it could adapt to any style of play. Even with the moves other teams made, and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder potentially being at full strength, the Warriors are the safest bet.

 

[CNOTES]

Why a Harrison Barnes extension makes sense for the Warriors


The crazy part about where Harrison Barnes stands with the Golden State Warriors is that were he on any other team -- in any other situation -- the debate over his potential extension this fall would be loud, constant and bitterly divided. Instead, for better or worse, it's a side story, a quiet anecdote on the championship-winning team with several loud narratives.


This is a player who was such a big deal coming out of high school that there was a press conference in which he announced his decision via Skype. But somehow he slipped between the cracks at North Carolina. He was never bad. He simply didn't stand out, and fell down the draft board to the Warriors. Since then he's frustrated Golden State fans with his inconsistency, while also developing into a key starter and contributor for a title team at age 23.


The Warriors have committed big money to both Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, and have Stephen Curry looming for his new, big-money deal in 2017. They have over $74 million tied up for 2016-17 before Barnes' extension, and only six players on guaranteed deals (several players including Festus Ezeli are set to be restricted free agents). They do have all the members of the championship "core" locked up through 2017, though, so they clearly have the money and means to retain Barnes.


That led to their offer of a reported four-year, $64 million extension with Barnes, which he has yet to accept. Now the question is money, whether an extension limits their ability to pursue Kevin Durant next summer, and now much exactly he's worth.


THE KEVIN DURANT COMPLICATION


The Warriors remain on the periphery of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes for next summer when KD becomes a free agent. They have real intentions, but as Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News reports, the Warriors would have to engineer a sign-and-trade no matter if they extend Barnes (and Ezeli) or not.


Let's be clear and blunt: Any Warriors sign-and-trade offer for Durant would have to start with Harrison Barnes.
It'd just have to–he plays the same position, he's young and somebody I'd imagine OKC wouldn't mind in any deal. But obviously that'd just be a tiny part of it; the Warriors would have to add much more.
How about Barnes plus Kevon Looney? Not nearly enough. And the money wouldn't be nearly enough, either. The Warriors would have to add a lot of money to make it work per CBA rules.
So… How about Barnes plus Looney plus… Klay Thompson? That probably got your attention and I'm sure it'd get the Thunder's attention.
Could anybody beat that offer? That might be really tough to top, if it goes on the table.I'm NOT saying the Warriors would make this offer; I don't know what they do at that point. They'd probably put together several other proposals that don't include Klay, at least initially.
Important points: The Warriors love Klay. They didn't trade him for Kevin Love and then gave him that huge $69M deal last summer, on the bet that he'd be just as good as he turned out to be last season.
He's a great partner for Curry. That's a championship-winning backcourt. All of that is understood. There is no way the Warriors would go into any Klay trade talks lightly–that's PROVEN by last summer.
But if Klay is the piece that gets you Durant, theoetically?Kevin Durant plus Curry plus Draymond would be an all-time trio, capable of obliterating the West several times over, I'd think.
Source: The Kevin Durant July 2016 Scenario: For the Warriors, it's simplified now-it'd have to be a sign-and-trade, and it'd take a lot - Talking Points.


Now, if Durant decides to join the Warriors, there's almost always a deal that can be worked out. We've seen this before (and I wrote about that in length when it comes to Durant), but any deal would still have to involve Barnes. Here's where it gets kind of interesting.


If the Warriors were to fail to come to terms on an extension with Barnes, they'll be at around $75 million, with about $15 million of cap space. Durant's going to be in line for a max contract, which will start at around $24.9 million, according to experts. Which means to sign Durant outright to a max at $25 million, Golden State would only have to clear off around $10 million in space. That's easier if Barnes signs elsewhere as a free agent, releasing his $5.1 million cap hold. If they waive Shaun Livingston before June 30st next season, he's only partially guaranteed. They would then be closer to being within range of the space for Durant.


However, the smarter move might be to sign Barnes to an extension no matter what. Doing so would give the Warriors a productive small forward for the future for what would still be a bargain, even north of the $16 million per year he has yet to accept. This would be wise in the event they do not land Durant. Extending Barnes would also provide them the option to move a player making eight figures in a sign-and-trade. This would get Golden State pretty far toward that $25M figure.


The Barnes extension doesn't stand as a serious impediment to that pursuit. That alone isn't a reason to sign him to such a deal, but while not signing him moves the Warriors within range of checkmate by a few moves, signing him to the extension doesn't limit their rooks at all, so to speak.


A REAL BARNES BURNER


One interesting thing about Barnes' career is how wide a gap there is between the perception of Barnes and the reality. The perception is that he's the inconsistent wing who hasn't ever established himself for the Warriors. He's never really asserted himself or his role, outside of his post play in the 2013 playoffs and a few key moments during last year's championship run. He tends to disappear for long stretches and that feeds the feeling that he's simply not important. He's fine, it's hard to say he's inherently bad, but the general feeling is that he's just kind of there.


Start to dig a little deeper, however, and you can only really come to one conclusion: Though not exceptional, Barnes is a very good NBA wing.


For starters, per 100 possessions last year for the 67-win eventual NBA champions, Barnes averaged 17 points and 9.5 rebounds while shooting 48 percent from the floor. (That was 10 points and 5.5 rebounds per game if you're not into adjusting for possessions.) He ranked 10th in Basketball Reference's win shares metric among forwards to finish with those per-possession numbers. On a team with outrageous on/off numbers, Barnes finished with a plus-12.6 net rating when he was on the court, 2.8 points better per 100 possessions than when he sat.


Again, solid, but not tremendous. What's difficult is to find serious holes in his game. Via Synergy Sports he ranked above the 50th percentile in spot-up, transition, cut, isolation and pick-and-roll situations (as the screener), including 91st percentile in ISO and 89th percentile spot-up. NBA.com's shooting data reveals that Barnes had an effective field-goal percentage (factoring 3-pointers) of 57.8 percent, and shot 56 percent or better with a defender two feet or more from him. In short, he was a knock-down shooter for the league's most devastating shooting unit. The Splash Brothers rightfully get all the credit for the heat they can apply to the net, and Green clearly established himself as the third-most valuable player on the team, but Barnes contributed to Golden State's offensive potency in key ways.


For starters, Barnes adapted to spacing, knows how to find ways to get open. There's absolutely nothing special about this play, except for how quickly Barnes gets to range and how willing he is to knock down this shot. You can talk about this being "easy," but there's a reason teams like Memphis and Milwaukee can't keep up offensively with the Warriors: They hit the shots they need to, and Barnes is a big part of that.

 

[CNOTES]

Report: Warriors to add Ben Gordon to training camp roster


The Warriors don't really need shooting. After all, they have the best shooting combo on the planet in Klay Thompson and reigning MVP Stephen Curry. Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes and Leandro Barbosa are all guys that can knock it down from long range. Still, you can never have too much of a good thing; at least that must be the thinking as the Warriors are signing a former Chicago Bulls star, veteran Ben Gordon. From ESPN:


Sources told ESPN.com that Gordon, who has been trying out for the Warriors at their practice facility in Oakland over the past few days, is likely to have a deal with the NBA's reigning champions by week's end that will give him an opportunity to try to snag a spot on Golden State's final 15-man roster.
Source: Golden State Warriors close to signing Ben Gordon.


The Warriors have 13 players on guaranteed deals for next year, and one would assume James Michael McAdoo would have a pretty good shot of sticking at the 14th spot. Ian Clark, Chris Babb, Jarell Eddie and Juwan Staten are all on non-guaranteed deals. The question will be whether Golden State wants to bank on potential and finding a diamond in the rough, or go with a veteran who you know what you'll get from.


Gordon's attitude has been in question during his last few stops, but there were no indications of trouble in Orlando. His shooting was decent last year as well (44 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range).


It's still stunning that Gordon, who was essential to the Bulls team that pushed the Celtics to seven games in an epic 2009 first-round playoff series, has fallen as far as he has. Gordon is still just 32 years old, and there should be several good years left in his tank. Where you sign and how you deal with adversity can scuttle a career, it seems. We'll see if the Warriors decide to bank on what the veteran can bring to the table.

 

[CNOTES]

Lakers GM trusts Byron Scott to balance wins and development


The Lakers are caught in transition between two eras. Kobe Bryant wants to win games on his way out of an illustrious career, as do veterans Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass and Lou Williams. Youngsters Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle need to develop. The Lakers have to find a way to split between those two priorities, since they're unwilling to fully commit to one or the other.


When discussing the job coach Byron Scott has done with the team last week, Mitch Kupchak said that he supports Byron Scott if Scott elects to go with veteran players at key junctions of the game in search of a win over getting the young guys a go. Either way, it's Scott's call. From the Los Angeles Daily News:


“We're going to try to win every game. It may come down to a close game and Byron looks down the bench and sees a couple of veterans down the bench and he's going to say, ‘I want to win.' He may take out a couple young guys and put the veterans in. That will be completely his call,” Kupchak said. “It's a balancing act that coach will have to get comfortable with. There may be times throughout the year where it's a learning experience. Byron may say, ‘He is better there because he's been in the league for 10 years. But this is a learning moment. Let me go with this kid.'”
This is a little tricky. Scott's a veteran coach. He wants to win. It's also the only way to make sure he gets an extension. Helping the team's young players develop isn't enough. If Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant had evolved into stars but the Thunder hadn't started being competitive in 2010, Scott Brooks wouldn't have held on another four years. There's a reason Brett Brown made it clear how he wanted job security when he took over the Sixers.


On top of that, it's just in Scott's DNA to compete. He's got a chance to get a win, how can he tell himself to do the opposite of what is most likely to get a win? Rookies make mistakes. It's just what they do. They don't get foul calls late. That's just how the league is. Going with D'Angelo Russell or Julius Randle late in the game could lead to a crucial mistake that hurts everyone, the coach, players, and team spirit included.


At the same time, those mistakes are important. That's how you learn. That's how you improve. The improvement of Russell, Randle and Jordan Clarkson is way more important than a late January victory on a Tuesday against the Bucks. Those are the kinds of decisions that matter, but are the toughest to make. We'll see how the Lakers balance their priorities this season.

 

[CNOTES]

Carmelo Anthony says title window is open, will play power forward


The New York Knicks are attempting to exit the cellar of the NBA and get back into the playoff picture. After the 54-win 2012-13 season, the Knicks quickly dropped out of the playoff picture in the weak Eastern Conference and became the doormat in just two years. Phil Jackson's second offseason in 2015 proved to be an encouraging one, as he added multiple new starters and much better talent and depth than last season's team featured.


However, with Carmelo Anthony already 31 years old, there are some questions about whether or not Jackson can build a championship team in New York with Melo as the star player. Is Anthony's title window closing up? Will that championship trophy elude him his entire career? He doesn't seem to think the window is closing at all. He told the media on Monday it was open.


Part of the way to maximize Melo's ability as he starts creeping toward his mid-30's could be using him much more as a power forward. It's something he's done in the past on these Knicks teams and had solid success doing. However, he's been resistant to becoming a full-time power forward. Perhaps it's the added physical wear-and-tear that worries him, but it's been a bit of a struggle to get him accustomed to that idea.


That also seems to be something he's open to coming into this season and said he's "pretty sure" we'll see him play the 4.


It would behoove Melo and the Knicks to make that happen. In the 2012-13 season, Anthony played 48 percent of the team's minutes at power forward and the Knicks were a plus-5.9 net rating over the course of 48 minutes. The Knicks dropped off considerably in 2013-14, but when Melo was at the 4 instead of the 3, they were more successful. They were a plus-1.6 with him at the 4 and only a plus-0.4 with him at the 3.


Last season, Melo's time mostly happened at the 3 and the Knicks were a minus-7.2 net rating as opposed to a plus-5.7 with him at the 4. If you can get him on the court with a point guard, two wings who can shoot the 3-ball well, and Robin Lopez at center, you could see the Knicks do some damage and be very competitive with that lineup. It's good to see he's open to the idea of sliding into that stretch-4 slot.

 

[CNOTES]

Bulls' Derrick Rose is already looking toward his 2017 free agency


The Chicago Bulls have stood by Derrick Rose. They made him the franchise star immediately after drafting him in 2008. They were patient with his return from the devastating knee injury in 2012, even when his return dragged on past expected dates. They were patient with him when he had the meniscus setback. They've kept him as their featured star even with the rise of Jimmy Butler.


However, this is a business, and just as teams will always look out for what's best for them, so too do the players have to keep their best interests in mind. Apparently, Rose feels that he's underpaid, since he spoke pretty openly about the fact that he's going to be chasing the money in free agency. From CBS Chicago:


The sequence began when Rose was asked how much a sexual assault civil lawsuit filed against him in California by an ex-girlfriend weighed on him and affected his preparation for the new season.
“I've been moved on,” Rose said. “This whole summer I had tunnel vision. My mindset was just making sure that I was working out every day, and spending as much time as possible with my son (P.J.). And focusing on those two things. Making sure my family is financially stable, as far as seeing all the money that they're passing out in this league. Just telling the truth. Just knowing that my day will be coming up soon, and it's not for me. It's for P.J. and his future, so that's what I'm thinking about right now.'“I'm preparing for it.''
Asked a follow-up question later, Rose emphasized that he wants his future to be in Chicago but indicated his mind is on getting his fair share of cash in a changing financial landscape in which a massive influx of TV money is leading to rising player salaries.
“Here, it's here,” Rose said of where he wants to play. “But when you talk about that much money, the only thing you can do is prepare for it. I'm trying to prepare, not only myself, but my family. And I'm doing this all for my son. Like I said, I'm thinking about his future. Even though we're all right, we're comfortable, when you talk about that x-amount of dollars, I think it raises everyone's eyebrows, so there's nothing wrong with being over-prepared.''
Source: Derrick Rose Already Has Eyes On 2017 Free Agency « CBS Chicago.


Rose is set to make $20 million in 2015-16 and over $21 million the following season before entering free agency. By then he'll be turning 29. He has not played more than 60 games in a season since he won the 2011 MVP. Rose is looking after his own financial interests, and while it won't play well with fans, in a vacuum it's reasonable and understandable. This game gets as much as it can from you while you're still valuable and then gives very little back once that point has passed.


Still, Rose got so much money in his last contract that the CBA literally has a rule designed around his name to provide players with extra money. Rose is currently the ninth highest-paid player in the NBA.


Rose wasn't the same last year. Maybe another year removed from all the problems (outside of his problem in the second half of last year that shelved him for several weeks) will bring him closer to the MVP player that was so phenomenal. If it doesn't, however, his day might not bring him the kind of reward he's thinking it will. Either way, if you believe that you can't fault a player for being honest with the media, you can't view Rose's comments in a negative light.


Rose was definitely sending a message, however.

 

[CNOTES]

Wesley Matthews likely out until Christmas; big blow for Mavericks


Despite his optimism back in August, Wesley Matthews' recovery from his Achilles injury will prevent him from playing for the Dallas Mavericks for a lot longer than he and the organization initially hoped. Matthews was already supposed to miss training camp, but at the team's media day, head coach Rick Carlisle revealed that Matthews will also be out for their season opener.


Carlisle also speculated Matthews might not be able to play until Christmas but didn't say that was a definite, as he was unable to give a clear timetable for the Mavericks guard.


After DeAndre Jordan changed his mind and decided to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, Matthews was seen as Dallas' big free-agent acquisition. Now it sounds like he won't be available for at least the first few months of the season, which could be disastrous for the team.


The Mavericks were already going to enter training camp without Chandler Parsons, who is recovering from a "minor hybrid" microfracture operation). Now with Matthews missing an extended amount of time, the team's new starting unit won't be able to develop any chemistry on the court early in the season. Unlike other top-tier teams in the West, Dallas does not have a lot of depth, and its starting unit was expected to shoulder a lot of the burden. Now this doesn't seem to be a reasonable expectation as the Mavs could have a rough start to their season and may not be able to climb out of the hole once Matthews is healthy enough to play.

 

[CNOTES]

Change of heart: Suns' Markieff Morris says 'I want to be here'


Heading into media day on Monday, Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris was perhaps the most interesting player to monitor. He'd privately, then publicly demanded a trade this summer, got fined $10,000 for it and heard the general manager say he wasn't going anywhere. Would Morris go into detail about his problems with the organization, or would he, as head coach Jeff Hornacek put it, get "back to business" with Phoenix?


It was the latter, and it was pretty boring, via the Arizonia Republic's Paul Coro:


"I want to be here," Morris said while wearing his Suns No. 11 jersey for media day.


…


"I'm looking forward to the season, not really trying to look at the past," Morris said. "I don't really want to talk about what I did in the summer. I really want to look forward to this up-and-coming season. Glad to be back with my teammates and glad to be back with the team."


When asked about his discord with the front office, Morris said, "It's between us and we're going to deal with it."


It's well documented that Morris was upset that the Suns traded his twin brother, Marcus, without warning. The two of them were on vacation at the time. He declined to address this in any sort of detail, however.


The question, then, is whether or not this is actually over. His Sep. 3 tweet, "My future will not be in Phoenix.... #thatisall #backtothegrind #FOE," is still up. Perhaps he's actually smoothed things over, perhaps he was told that he killed his own trade value by going public. It's probably not wise to just assume he'll be a Sun for life now.


It would have been more exciting if he had blasted the organization, but it wouldn't have been a smart idea. And as new teammate Tyson Chandler said, "this isn't the first time a player had miscommunication with management." At least everyone involved is on message, I guess.

 

[CNOTES]

NBA veteran Richardson retires

Jason Richardson decided that 14 years in the NBA is enough.


Richardson announced Wednesday night on Instagram that he's retiring. He had signed an unguaranteed contract with the Atlanta Hawks during the offseason but will not go to training camp.


His career began with Golden State during the 2001-02 season and included stops in Charlotte, Phoenix, Orlando and Philadelphia.


"Today is a bittersweet moment for me. I'm officially announcing my retirement from pro basketball. I like to thank the organizations and fans in Charlotte, Phoenix, Orlando, Philly and especially The Bay Area for their loyal support the past 14 years. Walking away was the hardest decision I had to make but choosing my health and spending time with my family is more important to me! God bless!" Richardson posted on his Instagram account.


The 34-year-old Richardson is best known for becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to win back-to-back NBA dunk contests. He played on mostly bad teams throughout his career, reaching the playoffs just three times and never making an All-Star team.


Injuries kept Richardson from playing during the 2013-14 season, but he returned last season with the 76ers and averaged 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 19 games, including 15 starts.


Richardson finished with career averages of 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 857 games, including 842 starts.


"I didn't want to limp the rest of my life," Richardson told Yahoo Sports. "I still have my whole life in front of me, God willing. I sat alone at a park in Atlanta thinking and no one said anything to me because they didn't recognize me since I just got there.


"I talked to my wife for an hour on the phone and then I sat for five hours thinking while listening to music before deciding that retiring was the right thing to do."

 

[CNOTES]

NBA alters Finals schedule


The NBA is changing the format for the Finals in 2016 to help with travel and give players more time to rest.


A new formula introduced Wednesday by the league abandons the traditional Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday schedule and includes two days off whenever travel to another city is required.


The 2016 NBA Finals, scheduled to start June 2, shapes up as follows: Game 1 on Thursday, June 2; Game 2 on Sunday, June 5; Game 3 on Wednesday, June 8; Game 4 on Friday,? June 10; Game 5 (if necessary) on Monday, June 13; Game 6 (if necessary) on Thursday, June 16; and Game 7 (if necessary) on Sunday,? June 19.


In 2014, the NBA altered the 2-3-2 format it used for almost 30 years to a 2-2-1-1-1 schedule that included an extra day built in for travel between Games 6 and 7.


The altered Finals schedule is part of the NBA's ongoing effort to cut down on back-to-back games during the regular season and postseason in order to give players more rest and recuperation time.

 

[CNOTES]

James plans more rest, wins with Cavs in 2015-16


Head coach David Blatt welcomes the help. He knows the Cleveland Cavaliers are better if LeBron James can be convinced to rest during the regular season.


James said Monday at the team's media day that power forward Love will make it easier to take time off, minutes and perhaps even games, in 2015-16.


"I think Kevin Love will allow me to sit a lot this year just because of his abilities and what he's able to do," James said. "I don't need to be as hard-headed. I will be smart about it.


Love is ready to play after missing the final three postseason series with a shoulder injury in his first season with James and in Cleveland.


James said he would discuss a plan with Blatt, which implies both will listen and adjust as needed. Forward James Jones said Monday Blatt was robbed of due credit because of James' presence.


"You talk about coaching arguably the greatest player this game has ever known," Blatt said. "That relationship is always evolving."


James said he's fully healthy and without restriction in camp, even as he peeks ahead at loosely restricted minutes, and revisits the scarring from another loss in the NBA Finals.


"Every year you lose in the Finals, it gets worse and worse to get over," James said.


"Last year during the postseason (I asked) would I rather not even make the playoffs than lose in the Finals? It's a very valid question to myself. You get all the way there and you lose, it's like, 'I could have those two months back, be laying out, helping my body get better."


James, who finished behind Steph Curry of the Warriors and runner-up James Harden in MVP balloting, still claims it was better for the Cavaliers to have lost than never experienced the NBA Finals.


"For me, I will take all the pain that comes with competing for the championship at the end of the day," he said.

 

[CNOTES]

NBA Atlantic Division Toronto's to lose. And that could be good for bettors


The NBA’s Atlantic Division is still the weakest in the league, led by the Raptors. It’s once again Toronto’s division to lose, and that could open up value in the teams behind the Dinos. Covers Expert Matt Fargo breaks down the best ways to bet the Atlantic Division this upcoming NBA season:


Toronto Raptors (2014-15: 49-33 SU, 37-44-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: -175
Season wins total: 45.5

Why bet the Raptors: The Raptors have won the Atlantic Division the last two years and no other team within the division has made significant moves to overtake them. Toronto lacks a superstar but the core players on this team have been together for a number of years, so continuity will once again be there from the start. The offense is quietly one of the best in the NBA as last season, the Raptors finished third with 108.1 points per 100 possessions, behind only the Warriors and Clippers. The addition of DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph can only help.

Why not to bet the Raptors: While bringing in Carroll and Joseph were nice moves, spending $90 on the two may have been overzealous and the Raptors could have made a bigger splash elsewhere. The Knicks and 76ers could be improved this season, more so for the former, but Toronto can't bank on going 7-1 against them again this season. So any extra losses there could bring the Celtics more into the mix. While the offense is solid, the defense remains a weakness. Not great odds where an injury or two could derail the season.

Season win total pick: Over 45.5 Wins

Boston Celtics (2014-15: 40-42 SU, 49-32-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +175
Season wins total: 42.5

Why bet the Celtics: After winning just 25 games in 2013-14, the Celtics won 40 games last season so head coach Brad Stevens is doing something right. All the pieces remain and the addition of forwards Amir Johnson and David Lee will bring in some much needed veteran leadership. The Celtics have the combination of athleticism and speed which leads to an effective up-tempo system. While it may not seem like a big deal, holding training camp in Spain and Italy is an enormous benefit to build team chemistry right from the start.

Why Not To Bet The Celtics: While Boston improved 15 games from the previous season to last season, it still finished nine games behind Toronto in the Atlantic Division. It is hard to find any significant improvements here, or regressions from Toronto, to make up that many games plus the division as a whole is better. The Celtics lack that true superstar that can take over games and lead them to a big move up the ladder. While the second-half surge last season carried Boston into the playoffs, missing the postseason is a big possibility this season.

Season win total pick: Under 42.5 Wins

New York Knicks (2014-15: 17-65 SU, 33-46-3 ATS)

Odds to win division: +1,200
Season wins total: 31.5

Why bet the Knicks: Despite a miserable season last year, let's not forget that the Knicks won the Atlantic Division in 2012-13. Granted, it is a different roster now but the main cog, Carmelo Anthony, is still here and he’s capable of putting this team on his back. New York had its first Top-5 draft pick since 1986 and selected Kristaps Porzingis. It may be considered a risky pick, but the upside is enormous. They didn't make a big splash in free agency but did bring in some solid talent that can make New York relevant again.

Why not to bet the Knicks: Phil Jackson was brought in to land big names and he failed to do that this summer. There were some good signings, however, they may not be enough to significantly improve this team. New York finished 29th in the league in offensive efficiency and 28th in defensive efficiency, so turning that around in one season will be a challenge. Porzingis has the potential to be a huge star but it won't happen in his rookie season. New York has nowhere to go but up but will likely need a 30-plus game improvement to win the Atlantic and that just isn't happening.

Season win total pick: Over 31.5 Wins

Brooklyn Nets (2014-15: 38-44 SU, 39-41-2 ATS)

Odds to win division: +3,000
Season wins total: 28.5

Why bet the Nets: On paper, this team does not look like a division winner but stranger things have happened. The Nets built a roster two years ago to dethrone the Heat in the Eastern Conference but that never came to fruition and most of those pieces are gone. One of those pieces was Deron Williams, who left for Dallas this offseason. It might be a good thing because of his inconsistencies. While the Atlantic is improved overall, it is still considered a very weak division. So if chemistry can be found and sustained, Brooklyn could be a major surprise.

Why not to bet the Nets: The Nets have the biggest negative variance in the division from actual wins last season to projected wins this season (-9.5) and there’s a reason for that. They’re building a roster around Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson, the latter probably won’t be around past the trade deadline. So the lack of above-average talent is evident. Entering the 2015-16 season, the Nets will have just three players on their roster who are 30 or older which is good for the future but not great at this point.

Season win total pick: Under 28.5 Wins

Philadelphia 76ers (2014-15: 18-64 SU, 40-40-2 ATS)

Odds to win division: +10,000
Season wins total: 21.5

Why bet the 76ers: Jahlil Okafor. While he’s just a rookie, the third overall pick is NBA ready and will be a beast down in the low post. Nerlens Noel finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting, so the duo gives Philadelphia a very strong frontcourt. While there are many unknowns on the roster, like all of the teams in the Atlantic, because of the weakness of the division, crazy things can happen. Winning it is very unlikely, but there’s a ton of value in the 76ers’ odds so you can put down a little with the potential of a big hit.

Why not to bet the 76ers: Chances are there will be another tank job in Philadelphia to secure another lottery pick, so betting on the 76ers to win the division could be throwing money away. The 76ers have won 37 games over the last two years combined and in order to win the Atlantic Division, they will have to do more than double that. With this young and inexperienced roster, chances of that are slim to none. Philadelphia has not won the Atlantic since 2000-01 when Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo led the way under head coach Larry Brown. Yes, it's been that long.

Season win total pick: Over 21.5 Wins

 

[CNOTES]

KIdd-Gilchrist could miss season with shoulder injury


Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist underwent an MRI exam that revealed he had suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder during Saturday's preseason game against the Orlando Magic, the team announced Monday.


Yahoo Sports reported that Kidd-Gilchrist will require surgery and will be sidelined for six months, although team announcement made no mention of possible surgery or how long Kidd-Gilchrist would be out.


Kidd-Gilchrist is scheduled to visit Hornets team orthopedist Dr. Marcus Cook on Tuesday to determine the next steps for the recovery and rehabilitation of his shoulder.


If Kidd-Gilchrist is sidelined for six months, it probably means he will miss the entire season. He would not return until the final weeks of the season in April.


The 22-year-old Kidd-Gilchrist, who was the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, averaged 10.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in 55 games for Charlotte last season. He is also a standout defender.


Kidd-Gilchrist signed a four-year, $52 million contract extension in September.

 

[CNOTES]

Cavaliers' Love cleared for 3-on-3 workouts


Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love was cleared to return to contact practice.


Love can participate in halfcourt 3-on-3 work and head coach David Blatt said the goal remains having Love in the lineup opening night.


Love is recovering from shoulder surgery required after an injury against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs.


Blatt said LeBron James would be ready to play in Thursday's preseason game but sit out the second game in Philadelphia.


There is nothing new on point guard Kyrie Irving, who might not be cleared for full team workouts until next month.

 

[CNOTES]

Pelicans lose backup C Ajinca for at least four weeks


New Orleans Pelicans backup center Alexis Ajinca will be out from four-to-six weeks after straining his right hamstring during a preseason game.


The team said Monday Ajinca suffered the injury during the second quarter of Saturday's preseason win over the Indiana Pacers.


Ajinca averaged 6.5 points last season. He parlayed that into a four-year, $20 million contract in the offseason.


Ajinca was pegged to play a significant role backing up Omer Asik. While he is recuperating, the Pelicans might turn to veteran Kendrick Perkins, who was signed in the offseason.

 

[CNOTES]

Sixers SG Stauskas out for two weeks


Philadelphia shooting guard Nik Stauskas will miss the next two weeks because of an injury to his right tibia.


The Sixers' second-year player has not scrimmaged since last week when he suffered the injury.


The Sixers open their preseason schedule Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.


Rookie point guards Pierre Jackson and T.J. McConnell will be watching from the bench, too.


Power forward Nerlens Noel also experienced soreness in his hip during Monday's practice but is expected to play against the Wizards.