Saturday, June 23, 2012

Warriors Interested in Brandon Roy


Warriors general manager Bob Myers said on Friday morning that the team has interest in former Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, who has made it clear that he will try to play in 2012-13.
“It’s a possibility,” Myers answered, when asked if the Warriors would have interest in Roy. “He’s an easy phone call to make.”
“I told (Roy) when he was amnesty-ed … ‘I hope this isn’t it for you. Make sure this isn’t it. He’s said publicly he wants to come back, so I’ll start to talk to him. It depends how everything goes for us and what his expectations are and all of that. But absolutely I’ll talk to him.”

Cavs, Bobcats Consider Swapping Picks?


As Charlotte continues to ponder its decision at No. 2, numerous executives expect the Bobcats to be approached by Cleveland (No. 4) about the possibility of swapping picks (if it hasn’t happened already) in order for the Cavaliers to land Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal. While Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving is known to be a huge proponent of drafting North Carolina small forward Harrison Barnes, it appears Beal has shot up their big board just as he has so many others, and it’s widely believed that he won’t get past Washington at No. 3 if they don’t make a move.
The Cavs have four picks (Nos. 4, 24, 33, 34), and those could be enticing to the Bobcats as assets should they decide to pursue both quality and quantity in this draft. It would make some sense, considering they’re coming off such a horrific season (league-record-low winning percentage of .106) and need so much roster help. What’s more, if the widely held opinion that Washington would take Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at the No. 3 spot if Beal was gone held true, the Bobcats could still get Barnes at No. 4 if that’s the direction they wanted to go. 

Prospects Pass On Work Out with Kings


Meanwhile, somebody forgot to give the top five picks a map that included Sacramento.
Despite having the fifth pick, it appears the Kings will not work out the player that they may very well wind up taking. Someone is bound to slide from the top-tier group that includes (Bradley) Beal, (Harrison) Barnes, (Michael) Kidd-Gilchrist and (Thomas) Robinson, but they have all decided against working out in Sacramento and — unless something changes — don’t appear to be scheduling anything in the eleventh hour here, either. Nonetheless, the Kings aren’t expected to hesitate on taking any of those players just because they didn’t take part in a workout.
The Kings have drafted a player who didn’t work out for them before, as that was the case with Gerald Wallace when he was taken 25th overall by Sacramento in 2001.

Bradley Beal No-Brainer for Wizards?


The Wizards made the first big trade of the offseason, sending Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. With the deal, the Wizards essentially upgraded their front court — Okafor will likely be their starting 5, Nene their starting 4 and Ariza their starting 3.
With John Wall running the point, that leaves them with one big hole at the 2. I think this makes Bradley Beal a no-brainer for the Wizards, who are lacking a lights-out perimeter shooter. He’s a perfect fit for this new roster.

Did Mike Miller Play His Last NBA Game?


(Mike) Miller might do it to himself — to his NBA career, anyway — and he might do it soon. He says he will meet with doctors, “see what parts work and don’t,” and then talk it over with his wife, his coach, his owner, and with team president Pat Riley. Miller has three years left on the five-year, $25 million contract he signed in 2010, but he doesn’t want to steal anyone’s money. He wants to be fair to everyone, starting with his family but also including his teammates. He doesn’t want to be a burden on them, take up a roster spot next season if he can’t contribute.
This would be a hell of a way to go out, Miller knows. I told him as much, said I wasn’t trying to chase him out of the NBA but, man, what a way to go. He smiled wearily again, nodded, said it was a very real option.
“If it is [the end], I couldn’t paint a better picture to go out on top like this as a champion,” he said.

Steve Nash: I’d ‘Definitely Consider’ Knicks


All-Star point guard Steve Nash, an unrestricted free agent, said Wednesday that he would weigh an offer from the New York Knicks, should they choose to make one.
“The Knicks are a great franchise and I live in New York City (each summer), so I’d definitely consider them if they were interested,” the Phoenix Suns’ mainstay said at a promotional appearance in Manhattan.
Nash, who’s 38, said he doesn’t feel old and wants to play three more years. He won’t make a decision about his destination until after free agency begins July 1.
“I want to wait and see what’s actually on the table,” he said. “I’m open and excited. I’m looking at every possibility right now. It sounds like there are a number of teams that are interested.”

Ainge: Garnett is Weighing His Options


Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge spoke with free-agent center Kevin Garnett last week, but Ainge said no decision on Garnett’s future is imminent. That leaves Boston’s offseason plan in a state of uncertainty with the new league year approaching July 1.
Despite a strong finish to his 17th season in the league, the 36-year-old Garnett is pondering retirement and needs time to make a decision about his basketball future.
“Kevin and I had a good conversation last week and the conversation was mostly on how he needs time before he makes that decision,” Ainge said during an in-studio appearance Wednesday afternoon on Boston sports radio WEEI-93.7 FM. “I think we’ll talk within the next week, but I’m not so sure that’s a decision day for him. He may want to wait and see what sort of team we have. I’m not sure.
“I know that he wants to come back. I know he likes Boston, and I know he loves playing for (coach) Doc (Rivers). He loves everything about the team and the city and so forth. I think that his decision will be, ‘Do I really want to play? Or do I not want to play.’ ”