NBA training camps are set to start soon, and the news and rumors are picking back up.
Check out the latest buzz below.
Zoran Dragic Close to Signing with Suns
The Phoenix Suns will soon have both Dragic players as thee team is close to signing Goran’s younger brother Zoran.
“ESPN sources say Phoenix Suns have emerged as clear frontrunner to sign Zoran Dragic away from Unicaja Malaga in Spanish ACB,” reported Marc Stein.
“Word out of Spain is that Zoran Dragic — Goran’s younger brother — likely lands two-year NBA deal provided final hurdles cleared this week.”
Zoran had a strong showing alongside Goran at the recent FIBA World Cup for Slovenia, who were beaten in the knockout round by the United States.
Rondo Won’t be Traded Before Camp
Rajon Rondo is the focus of many trade rumors but a Boston Celtics beat reporter believes he won’t be traded anytime soon.
Sherrod Blakely of CSN told a questioner via Twitter that Rondo will not be traded before training camp.
Blakely also said that the Celtics will have completed the signing of a deal with Evan Turner before camp starts on September 30.
Granger Could Play Power Forward
New Miami Heat addition Danny Granger could spend some time at power forward in small-ball lineups.
“If Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts are your starting power players, and with Pat Riley already talking about Granger getting time in the power rotation, that again appears to be the direction,” said Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel to a questioning reader.
“And it’s not as if there is much of a Plan B, with Chris Andersen at an age where limited minutes are the preferred approach, and with Udonis Haslem having been marginalized in recent seasons.
“Of course small ball is mostly an approach on one side of the ball. The reality is the Heat will face legitimate challenges against legitimate beef, be it Joakim Noah, Al Jefferson, Brook Lopez, Andre Drummond or Roy Hibbert in the East. As was the case previously, there are no easy answers there.”
Lakers Can’t Compete for Playoff Spot?
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the big question marks heading into training camp, with some predictions putting them in the playoffs and some leaving them out of even the race.
A new season preview from Basketball Insiders indicates the views of some who believe the latter.
“For decades the Los Angeles Lakers have been operating with distinct advantages that the rest of the league struggled to compete with. The league’s increase in exposure has really worked against them, taken away from their prestige and even the playing field when it comes to recruiting stars. You no longer have to play in Los Angeles to be a nation-wide, or global-wide star,” wrote Yannis Koutroupis.
“That’s why they’ve been one of the biggest losers in each of the last two offseasons. That, and the appeal of playing with Kobe Bryant coming off of the two most serious injuries of his career while he’s getting paid the most money in the league just isn’t that attractive. It’s quite possible that we’ve seen the last of Bryant in the playoffs, as the Lakers lack the top-tier talent necessary to compete in the Western Conference right now.
“Barring impressive bounce back seasons from Steve Nash, Carlos Boozer and Bryant, it’s hard to see how the Lakers even come close to competing for a playoff spot. Their competition only got better, while they frankly got worse.”
Varejao to Fit in Well with James, Love
Anderson Varejao is going to fit in well with LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving, according to the Basketball Insiders preview of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“When James put out his ‘I’m Coming Home’ letter in Sports Illustrated, he specifically mentioned Anderson Varejao, the only player remaining from his previous stint with the Cavaliers, and actually Varejao should be a pretty good fit alongside the current batch of superstars heading to Ohio,” wrote Joel Brigham.
“He’s an apt scorer but doesn’t need the ball, and he certainly is big enough and tough enough to clean up the boards when his high-volume shooting teammates are having bad nights.
“He is coming off a foot injury that cost him the bulk of last season, but once he’s healthy (and if he stays that way), he’s going to be a big help for Cleveland. He’d better be, at least, as the Cavs don’t have much behind him at the center position.”
Early Will Spell Anthony
The New York Knicks snagged a good player in Cleanthony Early in the second round of the draft, and will likely use him to spell Carmelo Anthony.
“The general sense around the league after the draft was that the Knicks have secured themselves a solid player with the 34th overall pick. Early is a mature 23-year-old small forward who should be able to contribute right away,” wrote Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders.
“He fell into Phil Jackson’s lap in the second round, and many within the Knicks organization have high hopes for the youngster, who starred for Wichita State University. He played well in the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 11.5 points on 46 percent shooting from the field and 4.8 rebounds per game.
“Ideally, Early will be able to provide solid minutes off the bench behind Anthony (who led the NBA in minutes last season and needs to play far less in 2014-15).”
Ex-Blazer Dies
Caldwell Jones, a former player for the Portland Trailblazers, has died at age 64.
CSN says that Jones was a favorite of the media, teammates and everyone else in the league.
“Caldwell Jones was one of the most respected and downright beloved NBA players I’ve ever been around,” wrote Dwight Jaynes.
“An opponent of Portland while playing for Philadelphia during the 1977 NBA Finals and then for four seasons a Trail Blazer, Jones was a favorite of the media, teammates and everyone else in the league.”
Nuggets Sign Williams
The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a deal with Marcus Williams, a league source told Shams Charania of RealGM.
“Williams, a starter over two seasons at Arizona and an MVP in China, will sign a 1-year deal with Denver,” he said.
