NBA Draft Lottery Tonight at 8 EST

Expect a scene similar to this one for tonight's draft lottery, as fourteen teams look to win the __________ sweepstakes. There's a blank because there isn't really any prize player in this draft and the race to the #1 pick is wide open for this year's prospects (although Ben McLemore and Nerlens Noel are clear favourites right now). Orlando has the best chance of securing the top pick in this year's lottery at 25%, but it's important to note that since the switch from the original coin-toss to lottery system, only three teams that finished with the league's worst record picked number one in the draft: the 1990 New Jersey Nets, the 2003 Cleveland Cavaliers and coincidentally the 2004 Orlando Magic. The odds for each team in this year's lottery to select first in the 2013 NBA Draft are as follows:

Orlando Magic - 25%
Charlotte Bobcats - 19.9%
Cleveland Cavaliers - 15.6%
Phoenix Suns - 11.9%
New Orleans Pelicans - 8.8%
Sacramento Kings - 6.3%
Detroit Pistons - 4.3%
Washington Wizards - 2.8%
Minnesota Timberwolves - 1.7%
Portland Trailblazers* - 1.1%
Philadelphia 76ers - 0.8%
Toronto Raptors** - 0.7%
Dallas Mavericks - 0.6%
Utah Jazz - 0.5%

* Portland's pick goes to Charlotte if it's outside the top-12 (unlikely, since three teams below them would have to move up)
** Toronto's pick goes to Oklahoma City if it's outside the top-3 (97.5% chance that this happens) Read more

Could Phil Jackson Become the Raptors President?

The Toronto Raptors, emboldened by the news that the Sacramento Kings apparently won't be moving to Seattle, have ramped up their pursuit of Phil Jackson to be their new team president, according to sources close to the situation.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Raptors -- now being run by former Los Angeles-based sports mogul Tim Leiweke -- regarded the Seattle group that was trying to buy the Kings as the biggest threat to preventing Jackson from seriously considering their pitch.

But now that the Kings appear poised to stay in Sacramento instead of being sold to the consortium led by Jackson fan Chris Hansen, sources say that the Raptors will be pursuing Jackson aggressively this week, believing that they rank as Jackson's most attractive current option for a new career in management now that he can reunite with Leiweke.

One source close to the situation told ESPN.com that Hansen and Jackson have "hit it off," sparking league-wide speculation that Jackson would be offered the chance to run the new Sonics in Seattle in the Pat Riley-style role he craves. But with a 12-owner committee recommending Monday that the Kings' move to Seattle be blocked, Toronto's seemingly long-shot odds of winning the Jackson sweepstakes would figure to have received a boost.

That's largely because of Jackson's longstanding friendship with Leiweke, who was introduced Friday as the new CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which oversees the NBA's Raptors, NHL's Maple Leafs and Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.

One source said that Leiweke's "vision and energy" and history of shared success at Staples Center with the 11-time championship coach ensures that Jackson will give the pitch strong consideration despite skepticism around the league about his willingness to relocate to Canada.

Amid its pursuit of Jackson in the wake of Leiweke's arrival, Raptors president Bryan Colangelo is scheduled to meet with the MLSE board next week in hopes of convincing his bosses to pick up the option year on his contract. The 2013-14 option in coach Dwane Casey's contract was picked up by Colangelo before this season, but Leiweke's arrival has thrown both of their futures into some immediate doubt.

In an interview last week with the San Francisco Chronicle, Jackson said "three or four teams" have already expressed interest and that "none of it involves coaching."

"There are some interesting situations that are presenting themselves, but I really haven't made up my mind yet what I'm going to do," Jackson told the Chronicle.

Jackson also confirmed to the newspaper he's interested in a developing team "where you'd have the influence in [selecting the] coaching staff and the kind of culture that goes along with it."

A large segment of Lakers fans have been holding out hope that Jackson could be lured back to the bench for a third stint in L.A., but Lakers officials have been adamant for weeks that Mike D'Antoni will be back next season as head coach after beating Jackson out for the job in November when Mike Brown was fired and then enduring a season of non-stop injury woe involving all of the Lakers' key players.

That hasn't stopped persistent speculation that Jackson and fiancee Jeanie Buss are destined to assume control of the franchise, but to date there has been no firm evidence to suggest that such a shift is looming. The Lakers don't appear to have much of a role to offer Jackson with Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak running basketball operations in tandem and D'Antoni on the bench, giving Toronto further encouragement that it can tempt Jackson.

Although Jackson's willingness to take on the sort of challenge Toronto would present as a franchise after just five trips to the playoffs in its 18-season existence remains unclear -- as does the amount of money it would cost Toronto to pull off such a coup -- sources continue to stress to ESPN.com that the overwhelming likelihood remains that the 11-ringed coaching legend will be back in the league next season in some capacity.

ESPN.com reported earlier this month that Jackson, after two seasons in retirement, is itching to return to the NBA next season, preferably in a role similar to Riley's in Miami that allows him to oversee both the basketball department and the coaching staff or perhaps as a high-level consultant such as Jerry West in Golden State.

One source, while not specifically referring to the Raptors, said Jackson is approaching his future with far more of an open mind than has been portrayed and would listen to a pitch from just about anyone because he feels he still has a lot to offer the basketball world at age 67.

Among the bigger challenges Jackson would appear to face as he plots his return is the prospect of getting offers from teams, such as Toronto and Charlotte, that are well shy of title contention after coaching nothing but high-profile, big-market powerhouses in Chicago and Los Angeles once he graduated to the Bulls' bench from the Continental Basketball Association.

Another likely issue is the possibility that interested teams will inevitably want him as a coach, given that he's the most successful coach in NBA history with those 11 rings and has never held a prominent NBA personnel job. Earlier this season, Jackson resisted coaching overtures from the Brooklyn Nets in the wake of Avery Johnson's firing and told longtime confidant Charley Rosen in January in a SheridanHoops.com story that he "has no intention of ever coaching again."

Colangelo won the NBA's Executive of the Year trophy after his first full season in Toronto in 2007, giving the franchise a major boost in credibility after he left Phoenix to join the Raptors. As for Casey, it's not yet clear how a GM change would affect his status -- contract or not -- given that Toronto finished 34-48 after coming into the season with playoff aspirations and after acquiring Rudy Gay in January.

Leiweke was known as a big-idea man during his time in Los Angeles who wasn't dissuaded by the naysayers who said he'd never succeed in luring David Beckham to Major League Soccer. Less than a week into Leiweke's Toronto tenure, it appears that Jackson is his new Beckham.

Sources - Raptors Want Phil Jackson as President --- ESPN

I really like this Leiweke guy, he's results oriented. All Colangelo wanted to talk about in the postseason presser is how we played .500 basketball after our 4-19 start... what kind of standard is that? I'd love to bring Phil in as the president of basketball operations and I think Leiweke can pull it off. He's good friends with Phil and is also a proven winner (Kings stanley cup, Beckham to Galaxy and back to back titles, partially involved in Lakers ownership). Just having Phil there would put a totally different perspective on this team and get people to start taking us seriously. The problem with Toronto isn't the city itself, in fact that's a bonus contrary to popular belief. The only teams in the NBA with bigger city markets than Toronto are the Knicks, Lakers, Nets and Bulls. Technically, since Toronto has access to the ENTIRE Canadian market it is actually the biggest market in the league. It's time for this team to stop being a joke and develop a winning culture with Phil at the helm. He'd most likely hire a new staff as well, which means Brian Shaw would be almost guaranteed to coach the team. Additionally, free agents might be more inclined to come here when it's clear we're dedicated to winning and getting the pieces required to be successful.

Phil wants a job as the head of a front office where he can implement his own vision for a team, and this is it. Now that the Kings are no longer moving to Seattle, I don't think we'll have much competition and should be able to get him to come in and take over. Read more

J.R. Smith Wins 6th Man of the Year

J.R. Smith will be named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year.
Smith averaged 18.1 points per game on 42.2 percent shooting from the field this season. His previous career high in points came in 09-10 when he averaged 15.4.
Smith had a PER of 17.6, up from 15.2 last season.

JR Smith Wins 6th Man of the Year Award - RealGM Wiretap

Definitely deserves the award this year. It looked like Jamal Crawford was going to run away with it earlier in the season, but Smith made a huge push post All-Star Break, averaging 21.3ppg compared to Crawford's 15.7. Smith is often cast as a headcase by NBA fans and analysts, but this year he has proven to be an integral part of the Knicks' success. His continued stellar play off the bench will be crucial in the postseason, if the Knicks hope to reach the Eastern Conference Finals and potentially knock off the heavily-favored Miami Heat. Read more

Derrick Rose Cleared to Return

Derrick Rose Cleared to Return

Youtube Mix - Coose08

Derrick Rose Cleared to Play - ESPN

We could see D-Rose return to action as soon as Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Expect the Bulls to be rejuvenated and excited with the return of their best player. This throws a wrench into the battle for the Central Division title with Indiana. Read more

Terrence Ross Wins the 2013 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

Terrence Ross became just the second Toronto Raptor to win the competition, finishing with three perfect dunks including a throwback 360 alley-oop off the side of the backboard while wearing Vince Carter's jersey. It was nice to see Terrence Ross sticking to the "No Props Needed" motto inspired by his teammate and former slam-dunk competitor, DeMar DeRozan.

Other Winners

Haier Shooting Stars - Team Bosh
3PT Contest - Kyrie Irving
Skills Challenge - Damian Lillard Read more

Golden State Warriors to be First NBA Team with Short-Sleeve Jerseys

 

OAKLAND, Calif. –  The Golden State Warriors have unveiled plans to wear the NBA's "first modern short-sleeve jersey" for three of their remaining home games this season.

The Warriors announced Monday that they will debut the alternate uniforms at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 22. The team will also wear the jerseys for home games against Houston on March 8 and Chicago on March 15.

Adidas, the uniform-provider of the NBA, says the jerseys feature "the first-ever super lightweight stretch woven short with maximum ventilation for player comfort. The jersey includes armhole insets with 360-degree stretch fabric that facilitates free range of motion for the arms and shoulders."

Adidas hopes to unveil similar short-sleeve jerseys for other NBA teams next season.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/02/11/golden-state-warriors-unveil-first-modern-short-sleeve-jersey-to-wear-at-3-home/#ixzz2KdGKhJHF

Read more

Rudy Gay Traded to the Toronto Raptors

The Grizzlies, Raptors and Pistons agreed to a six-player trade Wednesday that sent star swingman Rudy Gay to Toronto.

The Grizzlies, in the midst of a money-motivated makeover, acquired forward Ed Davis and veteran guard Jose Calderon in the deal that also sent backup center Hamed Haddadi to the Raptors.

Memphis then shipped Calderon to Detroit for Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince.

The Grizzlies also received a 2013 second-round pick from Toronto as part of the deal.

Read More: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8898673/rudy-gay-traded-raptors-grizzlies-6-player-deal-involving-pistons

The Verdict: Team Grades

Toronto Raptors: B

I actually like this trade for all three teams involved. The Toronto Raptors weakest position was small-forward and they were also lacking a star-caliber player, which is a major reason why they have lost so many close games this season. Gay fills that void. It's not inconceivable that Gay could average over 20 points per game on good efficiency for the Raptors as their number one option on offense. His presence should also make things easier for fellow swing-man  DeMar DeRozan, who has struggled somewhat with defenses keying in on him all season. He should have much more breathing room to operate now with Gay drawing attention on the opposite wing. Additionally this trade allows Kyle Lowry to start for the Raptors with the departure of Jose Calderon from the team. Lowry and Gay are good friends and also have some chemistry playing together from when Kyle was back in Memphis, so that should be an interesting and positive dynamic for the Raptors moving forward.

Obviously, the big question is whether or not this makes the Toronto Raptors playoff contenders, and the answer to that is "no". Not only is it extremely unlikely that they can turn around their 16-30 season and sneak into the playoffs, but even with Gay there the team is still relatively devoid of star talent. That being said, GM Bryan Colangelo has reportedly been shopping Andrea Bargnani, and perhaps he could be packaged with additional assets to make another move for Toronto.

Memphis Grizzlies: B-

Memphis was clearly looking to make a salary-cutting move here, that's no secret. They now have the much lighter contracts of Tayshaun Prince, Ed Davis and Austin Daye to manage rather than Gay's nearly 40 million owed over the next two years. That being said, this move basically eliminates the team from championship contention. Rudy Gay was the only dynamic wing player on the team capable of creating his own shot, and that's something that has proven to be extremely valuable over the years for any NBA trying to seriously contend for a championship. Name one championship team since the turn of the century that lacked a wing player or guard capable of creating his own points off the bounce in clutch situations. I'll wait. Of course, Tayshaun Prince should provide good defense and spacing at the small forward spot, while Ed Davis will excel for the Grizzlies off the bench at both frontcourt spots, but this team no longer looks like one capable of making any sort of deep playoff run. Such is the way of the NBA's new stricter luxury-tax. It was supposed to prevent the monopoly of star players in large markets, but judging from OKC and now Memphis it appears that it only serves to cripple smaller market franchises.

Detroit Pistons: A

The Pistons easily made out the best in this deal, considering they gave up the least for the most in return. They were able to dump Tayshaun Prince's contract (who is due $15 million over the next two years) while bringing in a veteran point guard in Jose Calderon who understands how to run an efficient offense. Calderon is one of the premiere pick and roll point guards in the league, and has consistently portrayed an ability to get his teammates involved and get them easy baskets; particularly big-men. Now Detroit can move Brandon Knight to either the off-guard position or a sixth man role, to which his skills are more suited. Jose Calderon will do an excellent job of getting the most out of Pistons' bigs Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, and could perhaps even push the team into the playoffs with both the Celtics and seemingly over-hyped Philadelphia 76ers reeling. 

Read more

Memphis Deals Speights, Selby, Ellington to Cleveland

Marreese Speights was the centerpiece of a money-saving move for the Memphis Grizzlies

Ronald Tillery: Source confirms Speights, Ellington, Selby and protected first in 2015 to Cavs. Griz receive Jon Leuer and $6.4 million trade exception Twitter @CAGrizBlog

Brian Windhorst: Cavs-Grizzlies trade is official. Cavs also receive future 1st round pick with protections that make it a likely lottery pick. Twitter @WindhorstESPN

Brian Windhorst: Much like Rockets-Raptors trade for Kyle Lowry last summer, pick Grizzlies sent Cavs is protected from 1-5 & 15-30. Twitter @WindhorstESPN 

Cleveland's Grade: A+

This deal is definitely a steal for the Cavaliers. They give up essentially nothing to acquire a very serviceable center/power forward in Marreese Speights, who could be huge for them this season with Anderson Varejao being out for the year with a blood clot. Additionally they acquire Josh Selby, an extremely athletic combo guard who could develop into an explosive scorer and playmaker for the team off the bench behind Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. Ellington has a reputation as a superb shooter, and currently hits a 42.3% clip from beyond the arc. Cleveland also received a pick with similar protection to the pick that the Toronto Raptors traded to the Houston Rockets (now belonging to OKC) for Kyle Lowry. It's a guaranteed lottery pick, and the team will receive it the first year (starting in 2015) that it falls in the 6-14 range.

Memphis' Grade: C

Obviously the Grizzlies had to make this move to get under the luxury tax threshold. Being a small market team they can't afford to pay the luxury tax this season, especially when they don't appear to have much of a shot at winning the NBA title. That being said, they just did some serious damage to their bench depth. They no longer have a three point shooter to play behind Tony Allen at the 2-guard position in Ellington, and they also lack frontcourt depth with the departure of Marreese Speights. Josh Selby was a promising prospect in his own right, but his loss isn't as big of an issue with Conley, Jerryd Bayless and Tony Wroten already on the roster. Clearly this move was all about money for Memphis, but unfortunately it does not solve their luxury tax problem long-term. Next season they are still on track to be over the luxury tax, so a secondary move involving Rudy Gay or Zach Randolph in the offseason is almost inevitable.

Read more

Sacramento Kings Purchased by Seattle Group?

The Sacramento Kings are close to be purchased by a group of buyers from Seattle, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

‏@WojYahooNBA  The Maloofs are finalizing an agreement to sell the Sacramento Kings to the Hansen-Ballmer led Seattle group, sources tell Yahoo! Sports.

‏@WojYahooNBA  The deal will sell the Kings for approximately $500 million, with the Seattle group seeking relocation to Key Arena for the 2013-'14 season."

This is huge news for Seattle fans as they have been clamoring for a new team since losing their beloved Sonics to the Oklahoma City Thunder back in 2008. To make things even better for the teams' fans, the city of Seattle still owns the rights to the team name "Supersonics" as well as the green and yellow trademark color-scheme for the team's jerseys. Sadly, the Thunder have full rights to the Sonics' history, so in the event that Hansen-Ballmer do finalize a deal for the Kings, they would need to also purchase the Sonics' history from the Oklahoma City Thunder's ownership. 

On a league-wide scale, this means a few things. First of all, I fully expect that Seattle will remain in the Pacific division, so nothing should change in that regard. On the other hand, expect Seattle to look to make a lot of trades particularly involving players like DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans who may not portray the image that they would like to begin their new franchise with. Stay tuned for more updates on this huge transaction.

Read more