NBA
NBA PM: Jackson Optimistic Carmelo Will Re-Sign
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated03 Oct 2023
Jackson Optimistic Knicks Will Keep Carmelo
LeBron James isn’t the only NBA superstar who will be announcing his free agency decision in the coming days. Carmelo Anthony is also expected to reveal his plans any day now, after holding meetings with the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks.
Phil Jackson, the Knicks’ president, addressed reporters in Las Vegas on Thursday after New York wrapped up their summer league practice. Jackson revealed that he hasn’t heard from Anthony since the two spoke at New York’s pitch. Jackson said that he has sent Anthony some text messages, but has not received a response back from the seven-time All-Star.
However, despite their lack of communication, Jackson is confident that Anthony will re-sign with the Knicks, who reportedly offered the superstar a max contract worth $129 million over five years.
“I felt really good about my conversation with Carmelo,” Jackson said, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. “We really struck a chord, the two of us, and feel overly passionately about what we’re trying to get accomplished. It’s his ability to stay, be patient, lead and watch us develop a winner. There’s no instantaneous winner that we think is going to happen to the Knicks right now, but we’re going to be a lot better.”
Jackson said that he expected an announcement from Anthony on Thursday, but added that he also expected to announcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, so he’s not sure when the decision will be made.
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported on Wednesday that Anthony had privately decided to re-sign with the Knicks, but ‘Melo’s camp has stated that no decision has been made.
While the Knicks did make a max offer to Anthony at their meeting, Jackson also put several other contract offers on the table and said that Anthony may decide to take one of those in order to provide the Knicks with some more flexibility to upgrade the roster. Jackson told reporters that even giving up one percent less than the max could help New York in the long run.
According to The Post, one scenario that the two sides discussed is Anthony “accepting the max to start at $22.5 million then taking a 7.5 percent paycut in Year 2 that would open up room for the summer of 2015. That would be about $3 million more in cap space as opposed if he took the 7.5 percent raise.”
“They’re amenable to what we’re trying to get accomplished,” Jackson said of the multiple contract offers on the table. “It’s not a big thing. You guys have made a much bigger thing about this. It’s not a really big thing. It’s percentages less than 1 percent of dollars that go over five years. It just gives us more flexibility. We have maybe five different options. There’s a lot of different options.”
Jackson referred to Anthony as “the first kingpin we have to have in this whole situation,” referring to the forward being the cornerstone of the franchise.
The Knicks have also been courting another free agent in recent days: Pau Gasol. Jackson and Gasol obviously have a relationship from their days together with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jackson is hopeful that the Knicks can lure Gasol to New York, despite the fact that they only have their taxpayer $3.27 million mini mid-level exception to offer.
“He knows what he has here and what is possible,” Jackson said of Gasol. “He’d like to play with Carmelo and like to play with a winner. We can’t guarantee that, but with him we can guarantee a much better chance.
“I told him in the right system and right coach, he can probably play a couple of more years. He got a laugh out of it.”
The Knicks have some stiff competition for Gasol, who is also drawing interest from the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami HEAT among others.
Moratorium Ends, Moves Become Official
The NBA’s moratorium ended today, which means signings and trades that were consummated when free agency kicked off on July 1 can finally be made official. A number of transactions have been finalized today and announced by teams. Here’s a rundown of some of the moves that are now official:
Kyrie Irving officially signed his five-year, maximum extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers today. The contract will pay Irving $90 million over the next five seasons and keep the All-Star point guard with the Cavs through the 2019-20 campaign.
“We are excited that Kyrie has officially committed to be here long-term with the Cleveland Cavaliers,” owner Dan Gilbert said. “The future has never been brighter as we are building the team and franchise for sustainable success. Kyrie is obviously a very big piece of our plan.”
The two sides reached the agreement shortly after free agency kicked off on July 1.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Kyrie firmly at the core of our Cavaliers team and family for years to come,” general manager David Griffin said. “He’s already proven he’s among the best in the NBA and we’re excited to watch his continued growth and success. To know that he is all in and shares our high expectations and championship goals is something we’re extremely proud of. It is a clear reflection of how we all view our future together, with Kyrie fully vested in this franchise and the city of Cleveland.”
The Toronto Raptors made their four-year, $48 million contract with Kyle Lowry official with an announcement this afternoon. Lowry was one of the best free agents on the market and received interest from a number of teams, but decided to return to Toronto rather than ink a deal elsewhere.
“We made it known that our top priority heading into the offseason was to re-sign Kyle,” Raptors president and general manager Masai Ujiri said. “He was a key to our success last season and we are delighted that he wants to be here in Toronto to help us continue to build a championship program.”
Last season, Lowry had a career-year, posting highs in points (17.9), rebounds (4.7), assists (7.4), field goals made (457), three-pointers made (190), three-point percentage (.380), free throws made (313) and minutes (36.2) while leading Toronto to a franchise-record 48 wins.
Lowry received interest from the Houston Rockets and Miami HEAT among others, but wanted to return to the Raptors because he believes the organization is heading in the right direction.
“I knew the money was going to come, the years were going to come,” Lowry said, according to The Toronto Star. “I wanted to be in a place I could win and grow. This organization, from top to bottom, is unbelievable first class organization and I want to be a part of it and do something special.”
One of the biggest deals to be signed in this free agency period was made official today, when Marcin Gortat put pen to paper on his new five-year, $60 million contract with the Washington Wizards.
“Re-signing Marcin was a top priority for us this summer so that we could maintain continuity and improve on what we accomplished last season,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. “His scoring ability, rebounding and defensive presence are matched only by his work ethic, leadership and personality, which all combine to make him an excellent fit in what we are trying to build moving forward.”
Gortat averaged 13.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 33 minutes last season with the Wizards, who acquired him from the Phoenix Suns early in the season.
The Polish native led the team with 37 double-doubles and was second in the NBA in double-doubles (20) after the All-Star break. He finished in the top 10 among centers in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, assists, blocks and double-doubles.
The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have traded forward Steve Novak and a future second-round draft choice to the Utah Jazz for point guard Diante Garrett.
Novak averaged 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 10.0 minutes in 54 games during the 2013-14 season. He shot a team-best .426 (52-for-122) from three-point range. Novak appeared in four games in the first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, where he was held scoreless in 15 minutes.
Garrett is a two-year NBA veteran from Iowa State. He appeared in 71 games with the Jazz last season, averaging 3.5 points, 1.7 assists and 14.8 minutes.
The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets announced today that they have completed the three-team trade that was consummated in recent days.
The Celtics have acquired center Tyler Zeller and a future first-round draft pick from the Cavaliers and guard Marcus Thornton from the Nets.
The Nets have acquired Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev.
The Cavaliers have acquired a future conditional second round pick from the Celtics and the draft rights to Ilkan Karaman and Edin Bavcic from Brooklyn.
Moves will continue to become official in the coming days. For all of the latest news and rumors surrounding the NBA’s free agency period, be sure to follow Basketball Insiders’ free agency diary.
