Just over a year ago, Pete D'Alessandro and company made a huge deal for Rudy Gay in the hopes of securing another star to pair with DeMarcus Cousins. Now it appears they're in search of yet another star, this time at Point Guard. With Rajon Rondo gone to the Dallas Mavericks this past week, Sacramento has moved on to Deron Williams.
The Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings are discussing a deal centered on former All-Star guard Deron Williams, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
The Nets have been shopping their high-priced star players, and the Kings have been probing the market for an impact point guard.
No deal is imminent, but the talks are ongoing, sources told Yahoo Sports.
The talks have centered on sending the Nets point guard Darren Collison and forwards Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson as part of a multi-player package for Williams, league sources said.
Just about a week ago, ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Nets had let it be known to teams that Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson were available for trade. Brooklyn is off to a disappointing 10-15 start and wants to shed some of their league leading salary while also getting younger.
Wojnarowski notes that nothing is imminent between either team. The Kings are pretty happy with how Darren Collison has performed so far this season, and his 15.6 points per game and 6.1 assists basically match the production given by the older, slower Deron Williams this year (15.6 points and 6.8 assists). Collison is also shooting better from the field (43.4% to 40.3%) and more importantly is only being paid about $5 million a year for the next two seasons, while Williams is set to make $21 million in 2015 and has a early termination option for 2016 worth $22.3 million.
According to Wojnarowski, the Kings are insisting that center Mason Plumlee be included in any such deal, but Brooklyn is reluctant to do so. The Brooklyn Game's Devin Kharpertian reports that the Nets would not like to include Plumlee in any deal.
source says no official deal was offered by Kings yet. Just talk. Nets major roadblock is they won't give up Mason Plumlee in any deal.
Plumlee is a very long, athletic center who can play above the rim, rebound and block shots. He's also in the second year of a four year rookie contract, making him a valuable commodity. Brooklyn is wise to try to hold on to him, and the Kings are wise to try to pry him from the Nets. I don't see either team bending on this issue, which makes a deal unlikely.
What this does mean however is that the Kings aren't satisfied with the pieces they have and are still in search of a big, splashy move. Whether that's a guy like Deron Williams, Josh Smith, or someone else, Sacramento is still searching for another big name. It's going to be a busy couple months until the trade deadline.
The Kings look to avenge one of the season's most frustrating losses today as they face the Lakers for the second time this month, having lost the first match in L.A., 98-95. DeMarcus Cousins was not available that day so hopefully that will even the odds. Sacramento is in the midst of a season-long five game losing streak that they definitely want to end. Today's action tips off at 3:00 pm on Comcast SportsNet California and on KHTK 1140.
3 THINGS TO LOOK FOR
1. The biggest difference between playing the Lakers now and a couple weeks ago is that DeMarcus Cousins is back. The Lakers are a terrible defensive team, and have nobody that can really handled Cousins down low. Cousins was far from 100% in his return to action on Thursday and he still managed to score 27 points, grab 11 rebounds and dish out 5 assists. Cousins should be a wrecking ball among the likes of Ed Davis, Jordan Hill and Robert Sacre.
2. The Lakers are a pretty good offensive rebounding team and that was one area they really hurt the Kings at last time they played. Having DeMarcus Cousins back will help, but it's not just up to him; the whole team needs to be involved.
3. The Kings are getting back some key players today, as Omri Casspi (who has missed the last 6 games) and Reggie Evans are both listed as probable. Casspi in particularly could provided a big boost to our bench; He did not play in Sacramento's last matchup against the Lakers despite being healthy at the time. Meanwhile, Ramon Sessions is listed as questionable with a low back strain, meaning we'll probably see a healthy dose of Ray McCallum.
The Kings should have beat the Lakers the last time they played them, but it all fell apart when Ben McLemore got into foul trouble because that kept him out of the game and he had been doing a marvelous job on Kobe Bryant. Without McLemore in his grill, Kobe got on a roll and the Lakers gained the momentum. The Kings need Ben to play a lot to help keep Kobe in check, as well as making him pay on the other end of the court. There was a time when Kobe was one of the most athletic players in the NBA, but that's no longer the case.
PREGAME LIMERICK
Once upon a time, these two teams traded blows Kobe Bryant almost broke Bibby's nose. Fans will say, BEAT LA! because a loss would be among the season lows.
DeMarcus Cousins is back, which means a tough game in Sacramento for the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers season rolls on with a road trip up to Sacramento to face the Kings, who have their leading man back in DeMarcus Cousins after missing time as he recovered from viral meningitis. It was less than two weeks ago that Kobe Bryant poured in 32 points in a win against the Cousins-less Kings, but there's been huge changes in the kingdom.
For starters, head coach Michael Malone was fired as he failed to "meet expectations" of owner Vivek Ranadive, a shocking turn of events for a team that looked like it was on an upswing prior to Cousins' illness. They've yet to name a new head coach, leaving Ty Corbin to take the reins in the meantime. Now, the Kings are also looking to shake up their roster with a big move, and have opened discussions with the Brooklyn Nets in acquiring Deron Williams and Mason Plumlee. What looked like a steady season where improvement could finally be seen has turned into a willy-nilly "what's next" fest.
The Lakers are still waiting on news regarding Nick Young, as he could be suspended after laying his forearm into Steven Adams' throat. At this point it seems unlikely with just a few hours leading up to the game, but nothing's official as of now.
We'll see how the Lakers come out with an early tip-off (3 p.m.) and a day off following a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Enjoy the game!
Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams will not play on Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons. Williams, who has started in all 25 of the Nets' games this season, received an MRI this weekend on his strained calf, an injury he sustained on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He is listed as day-to-day, missing his first game of the 2014-15 season.
Jarrett Jack will make his first start of the season for the Nets, while Brooklyn will also be without Brook Lopez (back).
Williams has been a part of trade rumors which include the team said to be having conversations with the Sacramento Kings about acquiring Williams.
The Nets, who are 10-15 on the season, look to beat the 5-22 Detroit Pistons on Sunday night without two of their cornerstone players. The game starts at 6:00 PM eastern.
Kobe is off to a rough shooting start (which seems to be the norm at this point) but he still was able to score this nice bucket over three Kings defenders.
BROOKLYN -- Things have been tough for the Brooklyn Nets the last few days, weeks and even first 25 games of the season. Standing at 10-15 prior to Sunday night's matchup against the Detroit Pistons, the Nets were losers of three straight and six of their last eight. Losing is tough on the psyche of a team as it is. Then of course came the injury bug.
Brook Lopez has been out for the last eight games with a back strain, and for Sunday's game, Deron Williams was also out with a strained right calf. Williams has also been the subject of trade rumors the last few days, one that would send him off to the struggling Sacramento Kings.
Riding on the back of Jarrett Jack, the Nets ended their three game losing streak with a 110-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Nets shot a stellar 52.6% from the field and 40% from three. From the start of the game, Brooklyn's ball movement was fierce. They had six assists within the first four minutes of the game as they started 6-for-6 from the field. They finished the night with 29 assists, matching their season-high on December 13th against the Charlotte Bobcats.
The storyline was nearly identical to what we're accustomed to this season, but Jarrett Jack had other intentions in the third quarter that helped Brooklyn get over the hump. Jack, starting in place for Deron Williams, finished the game with 15 points, 10 assists and two steals, his first double-double as a Net and his highest assist total of the season.
The Nets jumped out to a 28-18 first quarter advantage, holding Detroit to 29% shooting in the quarter compared to their own 60% shooting. But, as stated, it was a similar story to what's doomed Brooklyn this season. Despite owning a 10 point lead, the Pistons shot 13-for-20 in the second quarter and outscored the Nets 33-25 to cut their deficit to two heading into halftime.
It was Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe who gave the Pistons the lift they needed; mostly on the boards. The Pistons grabbed 18 offensive rebounds compared to the Nets' three offensive rebounds. Drummond was the anchor. He finished with 18 points and 20 rebounds, seven of which coming on the offensive glass. Monroe on the other hand, finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
As the game progressed and the teams continued to stay close, the Nets were dealt with another bad hand. Joe Johnson was inadvertently poked in the eye, forcing him to check out of the game and sit for the rest of the third quarter. He returned, but the damage was done as Jarrett Jack was the lone force in attack on the offensive end.
The Nets owned an 89-83 lead early in the fourth quarter, but went on a 7-0 run behind five points and one assists from Darius Morris, who assisted on a Mason Plumlee and-one. And with that, the "Brooooklyn" chants reigned down from the Barclays crowd as the Nets owned a 13 point lead at the 6:43 mark, then eventually 15 with 5:31 remaining. Game over, right?
Wrong.
The Pistons wouldn't go down without a fight. They went on a 14-4 run during the last four minutes, cutting the Nets' 15 point lead to two with 36 seconds remaining. Brooklyn owned possession, but Mason Plumlee turned the ball over following a poor pass in the congested Pistons' paint. Detroit was on the attack with 18.6 seconds remaining, down two, but Jodie Meeks rushed a deep, contested three from 25 feet out that resulted in an airball far left.
Game over, right? Still, no. Joe Johnson hit two free throws, which was then answered by a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope three-pointer to cut their deficit to one. Pope finished with 20 points and six rebounds to lead all Pistons' scorers.
Johnson hit on two more free throws and the Pistons missed on the following three. Kevin Garnett then missed two free throws, giving Detroit another chance, but Brooklyn wisely sent Pope to the line with four seconds left, cutting any chance of a three-point attempt for Detroit.
Finally, the game was over -- and with that -- the Nets' three game losing streak was over.
Despite turning the ball over at the most inconvenient time, Mason Plumlee was the star for Brooklyn; especially in the fourth quarter. In the final frame, he scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds combining for a big night of 21 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, two assists and two blocks. In his last six games, Plumlee is averaging 18 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks on 68.2% shooting in 34.2 minutes per game. He discussed his consistency.
"It's just every night's a new challenge, new personnel, and I get excited about each matchup, so you prepare for it, and you get excited about it, and to me, that's where the consistency is - just being excited to go out there and play," said Plumlee.
"Man, Mase has a factor that always keeps his ears perked up - makes sure he's always involved in the game." Jack said of Plumlee. " It's called Kevin Garnett."
Key Tip-Ins: Joe Johnson (16 points, seven rebounds and two steals), Bojan Bogdanovic (14 points), Mirza Teletovic (13 points, seven rebounds.) For Detroit: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (20 points, six rebounds), Josh Smith (13 points, six assists and five rebounds), Jodie Meeks 13 points).
Quarter by quarter summary:
First quarter ... It was the exact start the Nets had hoped for against the lowly Pistons despite being undermanned. The Nets hit on their first six shots attempted, building a 14-6 lead and forcing Stan Van Gundy to call an early timeout.
The Nets' ball movement was fierce. It was damn near perfect, as they assisted on 10 of their shots which led to a 60% shooting opening quarter for Brooklyn. It wasn't only the offense, though. The defense was locking the Pistons down, forcing them to shoot 29.2% from the field while also out-rebounding Detroit 14-10. This all led to a 28-18 advantage for Brooklyn.
Second quarter ... Like we've seen on a consistent basis, the Nets' scorching play in the first quarter immediately diminishes once the second quarter comes around. Greg Monroe put Detroit on his back as he scored 13 points in the first half, but the Pistons as a whole shot 13-for-20 from the field -- improving their 29% shooting in the first to 45.5% in the second. They outscored Brooklyn 33-25, but still failed to take a lead of any sort.
Brooklyn still finished the half 55% from the field, but a 7-0 run to finish out the half brought the Pistons within two. Joe Johnson was the only Nets player in double figures with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
The score at the half: Nets 53, Pistons 51.
Third quarter ... As the Nets and Pistons continued to exchange buckets in the third quarter, Joe Johnson was inadvertently poked in the eye. He fell to the ground, grimacing in pain while holding his eye. He was immediately sent to the bench. He would return in the fourth quarter.
Rebounding was an issue for Brooklyn. They were dealing with Andre Drummond who had 12 points, 17 rebounds and Greg Monroe (13 points and six rebounds), which gave Detroit a 17-2 advantage on the offensive glass. The Nets consistently shot the ball well with their 51.7% from the field and 43.8% from three, but it was Detroit's efforts on the glass that kept them afloat. Still, Brooklyn outscored Detroit 30-27 in the quarter, and led 83-78 behind 15 points and 10 assists from Jarrett Jack. It's his first double-double as a Net and his highest assist total of the season.
Fourth quarter ... The Nets owned an 89-83 lead early in the fourth quarter, but went on a 7-0 run behind five points and one assists from Darius Morris, who assisted on a Mason Plumlee and-one. And with that, the "Brooooklyn" chants reigned down from the Barclays crowd as the Nets owned a 13 point lead at the 6:43 mark.
The Pistons wouldn't go down without a fight. They went on a 14-4 run during a three minute span, cutting the Nets' once 15 point lead to two with 36 seconds remaining. The Nets owned possession, but Mason Plumlee coughed up the ball and Detroit was on the attack.
Detroit inbounded the ball to Jodie Meeks with 18.6 seconds remaining, who chucked up a contested three-pointer that caught air to the far left. Game over, right? Still, no. Joe Johnson hit two free throws, which was then answered by a Kantavious Caldwell-Pope three-pointer to cut their deficit to one. Johnson hit on two more free throws and the Pistons missed on the following three. Kevin Garnett then missed two free throws, giving Detroit another chance, but Brooklyn wisely sent Pope to the line with four seconds left, cutting any chances of a three-point attempt for Detroit.
Final score: Nets 110, Pistons 105.
For more on the Detroit Pistons, check them out at Detroit Bad Boys.
It wasn't pretty, but the Kings finally got that W. Ben McLemore, Rudy Gay, and Boogie combined for 76 points and the Kings got the win.
Remember when Sacramento Kings vs, Los Angeles Lakers games were headlining on NBC, ABC, and TNT? When two of the league's best teams would go to head-to-head, and the whole country would be watching? This was nothing like those games (outside of a few vintage Kobe calls). The Lakers, who kickstarted the Kings' recent losing streak a few games back, rolled into Sacramento tonight. And they brought an opportunity for revenge along for the ride.
Not just revenge for the last game. But revenge over Robert Horry. Revenge over Kobe Bryant's travel/pushoff/out-of-bounds game winner a few seasons back. Revenge over the flocks of Lakers fans that muster up the nerve to invade our arena, year after year. And tonight, the Kings finally got their revenge (not really.. at all).
The Kings started out hot, building a double-digit lead in the first. But, as we know, that is a death wish with this team. The Lakers stormed back, and built their own double-digit lead in the third quarter. Ben McLemore, outside of a dominating 2-minute run by Kobe, had his way with Bryant on both offense and defense. While the Kings' "Big Two" did their thing, Ben was the MVP of the game. His 10-18 shooting, while great, really isn't even showing how good he was, as he shot 3 or 4 wide open daggers that clanked out at the end of the game. DeMarcus Cousins, who still isn't at full strength, and got quite winded at times, still managed to put up 29 points and 14 rebounds. Rudy Gay had a great offensive night, sans a couple of bad shots, and a couple of ill-advised fouls on Nick Young.
The Lakers are an interesting bunch. Seeing as the league continues to insist that fans want to watch them nationally, I've caught at least a portion of most of their games this season. They're a much better team when Kobe is either distributing or out simply out of the game all together, but they still insist on using the 36-year-old aging veteran like he's still in his twenties. And you won't see too many opposing teams complaining about this strategy.
Tonight, Kobe mostly helped the Kings with nine turnovers to his eight field goals on thirty attempts. Nick Young, who's nickname I refuse to pollute Sactown Royalty with, hit some ridiculously lucky shots, and made sure everyone heard about it. And their role players did about what you'd expect them to do with limited touches.
It wasn't a pretty win. The Kings did everything they could to let L.A. back into the game in the last minute, and luckily failed in that attempt. As has been the trend, the Kings' bench was largely ineffective once again. And there were plenty of ill-advised plays, but for the most part, the Kings took care of the ball. Especially when you look at the astronomical turnover numbers we'd been putting up throughout the month of December. The ball movement, when it was on, was a fun thing to behold. And, Ben McLemore had a few highlights that might make it on the top-ten lists tonight. So, with some good, and some bad, I will take this win, especially given our recent rough patch and drama. Any win over the Lakers is a good thing.
With fans at the end of their rope, why has the environmental review for the arena proposal seemingly taken so long?
The light at the end of a long SEPA review process is so close that we can touch it. Or taste it, depending on which sense you prefer.
But what is a Final Environmental Impact Statement, why was it necessary, and just what the heck took so long to get this one done?
I know, I know. This would be tremendously more fun with an animated project SEPA application named Appy dancing us through the steps, a la the Bill from Schoolhouse Rocks!, but we'll push ahead...
The United States passed into law the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, taking effect on January 1, 1970. This law requires federal agencies -- but not the President, Congress, or federal courts -- to take into consideration issues with and impacts on the environment for all federal projects. It created the Council on Environmental Quality, which advises the president on environmental issues, and gave way to President Richard Nixon's founding of the Environmental Protection Agency in December 1970.
The law was so influential that other countries have used it as a basis for their own policies.
The biggest effect of the law was the formation and requirement of the Environmental Impact Assessment (now simply Environmental Assessment, or EA) procedure, and the formalized report on the findings of such assessment, known as an Environmental Impact Statement. This effect trickled down to the state level, with many forming their own agencies and developing their own environmental law patterned on NEPA. Washington's State Environmental Policy Act was enacted in 1971.
SEPA REVIEW PROCESS
It might seem otherwise, perhaps because we are a bit too close to this particular project, but Washington SEPA law and its review process are not designed to get in the way of any project or discourage development.
No, SEPA law is simply in place to consider impacts of a project on the environment, discover what those impacts could be, and determine how any adverse impacts can be mitigated to move forward. If a project is killed by results found during SEPA review, it is either because adverse environmental mitigation is not possible or too costly in the desired location.
There are certain exemptions for small local government and very narrow scope, but nearly all projects in Washington state are subject to it. Private projects, such as Amazon's now-in-construction world headquarters, fall into this, as well, because they require permitting from local government.
Alright, Appy, the project guys have submitted you. So, what comes first?
Identifying the big dog, the "lead agency" on a project. This is the party that will actually be completing the SEPA review and is usually a government entity that issues permitting for a project.
Next step is for the project applicant to complete a checklist for the lead agency about potential impacts on the natural and man-made environments. These include air, land, and sea, plants and animals, energy and utilities, existing public services, and transportation, among others.
The lead agency determines if the checklist provides enough information to mitigate adverse environmental impacts. If there are not a lot of adverse impacts, the lead agency can issue a Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS). If there are significant impacts or not enough information available to make a decision on permitting, they can then request an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
STANDARD SEPA PROCEDURE FOR EIS
Let's just put this to rest right here and now. There is no standard length to the overall SEPA review process or its component environmental assessment for an EIS.
The time needed to review your proposal will depend on the permits needed, the complexity of the project, the amount of information already available, and the need to complete additional analysis or studies. In many cases, project review may be completed in two or three months. On the other hand, completing project review for some complex projects may take years.
In the case of the arena proposal, the estimate was 12-14 months, based on projects of similar size and scope. This was only an estimate.
The lead agency will often hire a consultant to conduct the environmental assessment and complete the EIS. They issue a scoping notice to take input from all parties involved on a potential project, as well as the public, and work with the consultant to set the overall scope of the assessment. Issues such as traffic, air quality, and sound impact can be included in the scope.
In addition to the site, alternative versions of the project at the site and/or alternative sites must be included in the EIS to offer appropriate context. A "no action" option, which basically identifies the environment at the site without the project occurring, is also considered.
At a point during the EA, often the half-way mark, the consultant will provide the lead agency with a draft version of the EIS. This Draft EIS is published and a 30-day public commentary period is opened to allow input and questions to identify concerns over the preliminary results. Depending on the extent of the project, an additional 15 days may be added to the commentary period. Comments can be made in public hearings, such as council meetings, or submitted in writing by mail or electronically.
The remainder of the EA process is spent continuing the analysis of the original scope of work, and now also addressing any and all concerns brought up during the commentary period. In the end, the consultant compiles everything into a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and submits this to the lead agency, who then publishes it for public consumption.
The review process allows for a minimum of 7 days from the publication of the FEIS for the lead agency to begin approving permits.
SODO ARENA-SPECIFIC SEPA REVIEW
The Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Seattle, King County, and investor Chris Hansen's arena group was completed on October 8, 2012. It was signed into effect by then-Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine on October 18, 2012. Almost immediately, Hansen began substantive negotiations with the Maloof family, owners of the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise, to secure the team and kick off the arena project.
By numerous accounts, Hansen had potentially been courting the reluctant Maloofs to sell for most of 2012, during the negotiation process for the MOU. Due to that potential, and with the SoDo location identified as the preferred site for the project, SEPA review process was heavily considered in the crafting of the MOU. Section 5 identifies aspects of the scope of the SEPA review needed:
5. SEPA. The Parties acknowledge that the Project is subject to review and potential mitigation under various laws, including the State Environmental Policy Act, Chapter 43.21C of the Revised Code of Washington ("RCW"), and the state and local implementing rules promulgated thereunder (collectively, "SEPA"). Before the City and County Councils consider approval of the Umbrella Agreement and any Transaction Documents, the City and County will complete a full SEPA review, including consideration of one or more alternative sites, a comprehensive traffic impact analysis, impacts to freight mobility, Port terminal operations, and identification of possible mitigating actions, such as improvements to freight mobility, and improved pedestrian connections between the Arena and the International District light rail station, the Stadium light rail station, the SODO light rail station, and Pioneer Square. The City and County anticipate that alternatives considered as part of the SEPA review will include a "no action" alternative and an alternative site at Seattle Center. The City or County may not take any action within the meaning of SEPA except as authorized by law, and nothing in this MOU is intended to limit the City’s or County's exercise of substantive SEPA authority. Consistent with Section 4 of this MOU, ArenaCo will reimburse the City for the costs incurred by the City as part of the SEPA review and will be responsible for funding any required mitigation imposed through SEPA substantive authority.
The city's Department of Planning & Development is the lead agency on the review. The review roughly began in October 2012, with an estimated end date of November 2013.
Five options are considered in the review. Technically, the project is identified as a private project, even with the consideration of public financing, because it was started and presented by Hansen's group. A private project actually only requires additional options at the preferred site, as well as the "no action" option, when completing an EIS.
A public project would need off-site alternatives, and this was something the city and county voluntarily added to the arena EIS to be as comprehensive as possible.
The five options under consideration: a 20,000-seat arena at the SoDo location (the preferred option); an 18,000-seat alternative arena at the SoDo location; a 20,000-seat arena at the KeyArena site at Seattle Center; a 20,000-seat arena at the Memorial Stadium site near the Center; and the "no action" option. An economic impact analysis is also included to determine the financial impacts to Port of Seattle operations, freight mobility, and industrial concerns in the Duwamish Manufacturing/Industrial Center (MIC) in which SoDo sits.
Hansen applied for a Master Use Permit for the project with DPD on April 30, 2013, in anticipation of a Seattle-positive outcome of the fight for the Kings. The MUP would require completed SEPA review to be issued.
Then, everything went to hell in a hand-basket regarding the purchase of the Kings.
SO, WHY SO LONG?
Well, Appy...
When the Kings opportunity fizzled, Hansen, the city, and the consultant pulled their collective foot off the gas of a frenzied process. The Draft EIS, expected to be published in late Spring 2013, was instead released to the public in August. It showed positive preliminary results for the SoDo site, and relatively small negative economic impact to Port operations. To address concerns raised during public comment on the DEIS, the estimated release of the FEIS was pushed from November 2013 to early 2014.
Then, early 2014 came, and it was pushed again.
February arrived with reports about what was necessary to complete the EIS, and rumors began to surface about withholding of information to do so on the part of Hansen's camp. Each month ticked off seemingly with reports of punting the FEIS publication even further, causing fans to foam at the mouth and curse the so-called "Seattle process."
Many began to worry that certain arena opposition forces had convinced some within the city to try to kill the entire project with scores of the proverbial bureaucratic red tape. The narrative that Hansen was intentionally delaying the review, perhaps because he was hearing from the NBA that the potential to get a team in the next few years was non-existent, became the prevalent theory pushed by a number of Seattle media outlets.
With Steve Ballmer leaving to become owner of the Los Angeles Clippers and no word coming from Hansen's corner, it was an easy narrative for people to believe.
Yet, it never really washed with the Hansen we've come to know through this process.
Hansen's made some mistakes, to be sure. Most specifically, the anti-arena campaign donation snafu down in Sacramento. Still, this is a measured, methodical man who places a premium on being informed, considering all angles, and presenting airtight solutions. He approached the city and county nearly four years ago with concepts that greatly informed the finalized version of the MOU.
That confidence and conviction in his planning enabled a lengthy negotiation process to produce an agreement on exploring an arena project. That also led to a potential financial framework to fund the arena that will benefit all, if the project moves forward.
This was only four years removed from a contentious Seattle environment that limply allowed the SuperSonics to leave over arena issues. A complete surprise when it seemed like such a thing would never be possible in our lifetimes.
Why, when we've taken Hansen's cautious and calculated nature as a boon to the Sonics effort and a lucky charm, would we now want to see it as a negative?
He wants this project to move forward without any hitches. Covering all bases in the environmental analysis to make sure it positively stands up to criticism, as well as any potential appeal or legal opposition, clearly falls into the plus column.
News finally broke in September from KING5-TV's Chris Daniels that Hansen had submitted all necessary final review paperwork to the city and consultant, and the report completion period had begun. A specific date hasn't been set, but the FEIS is expected to be published in late January 2015.
That the end is marked in flashing lights is the big takeaway. What was equally important about Daniels' report was the explanation behind the delays. Other projects within the area near the proposed SoDo location had altered the environment, most specifically the indefinitely-delayed deep-bore tunnel project that's set to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and its potential effect on traffic coming into SoDo when, and if, the project is completed and planned tolling begins on the road.
Traffic and parking concerns appeared to lead Hansen to purchase the option on more land in SoDo, potentially the site for his own parking facility, after the Mariners stated they didn't have extra capacity in their parking garage to support other events or facilities in the area. Additionally, a forthcoming Seattle City Light substation in the Denny Triangle will impact power transmission through the Massachusetts St. substation in SoDo near the proposed arena site.
For a comprehensive and current EIS, all of this now had to be considered. Thus, everything was extended by roughly a year.
THE END?
Now, brace yourselves. Once the FEIS is published, the Seattle City Council will review it to determine if it provides enough information for them to make an informed decision on the arena project. The council will also hold two public hearings for comment. If too many questions are raised, they might hire the consultant to complete further review. Also, those who took issue with the scope of the assessment can file an appeal, which could take months on its own.
This is all to say that there could be more waiting.
There is no standard length to environmental assessment or the complete SEPA review. For most of us who will never have to partake in a review, it's something that would never factor into our daily thought process. We have no context for patience.
As hungry sports fans, desperate for the live, in-person sound of the bounce of an official NBA ball on a Green-and-Gold-flecked court, we've lived and died by every little development. The seemingly interminable wait and frequent end date shifts punched us in the gut with nary a care. The whole time we've cried, why is this taking soooo long?!
It's not. It's taking as long as needed. It's taking as long as needed to get it right.
No one is saying that a proposed trade with the Kings is imminent or even likely, but due to its transformative nature, we asked Brian Fleurantin, who does our game previews, to take a look at what it could mean. We added some game videos and Nik Stauskas DraftExpress profile
With the news that the Brooklyn Nets might be looking to make a trade with the Sacramento Kings, this is a good time to learn about the players at the center of the rumored trade. Keep in mind no trade has been made as of yet.
Collison would be the center piece of this proposed trade from Brooklyn's perspective. This is Collison's sixth season in the NBA, but he's bounced around a bit. He's played for New Orleans, Indiana, Dallas, Sacramento, Los Angeles and now Sacramento. He also has a bit of a connection to the Nets. He was part of the four team trade in the Summer of 2010 that sent Courtney Lee to Houston and Troy Murphy to the Nets.
On the court, he's dealt with some injuries (missed three games in November), but has been having a fine season despite that. His shooting splits (field goal percentage/three point percentage/free throw percentage) are at career lows two months into the season, but he's still averaged 15.7 points a game while getting to the free throw line at a career high rate. He's shot 46 percent from the field throughout his career, so this temporary blip shouldn't be too worrisome for fans. The biggest benefit Collison gives his team is in his playmaking. He's committing turnovers at a career low rate and is 17th in assists per game at six per game. When he's on the court, the Kings score 107.5 points per 100 possessions, four points better than their overall average and almost 11 (!!) more than when he is out of the game.
Collison's defense has helped Sacramento despite their recent struggles without DeMarcus Cousins. Opponents are only shooting 42.4 percent when DC is defending. Digging into that a bit, they're only shooting 33 percent from three point range against Collison. In a league that has placed a greater emphasis on three point shooting, having a player that is capable of preventing opponents from good looks downtown is crucial. Collison can adequately defend all kinds of perimeter players even when he is at a size disadvantage.
Collison is safely in the second tier of point guards, but this is the best collection of point guards since the glory days of Gary Payton and John Stockton in the 1990s so that's not a knock on his game. A player like DC that sets up his teammates, play quality defense and score when necessary can be very valuable for a team that's trying to hang on in the playoff race.
Collison is only 27 years and is signed to a pretty team friendly contract. He has two more years left on his contract and will only be making a shade over $5 million in those two seasons.
Speaking of his role as the Kings' third best player (behind Cousins and Rudy Gay), Sactown Royalty's Section214 wrote:
The play of Darren Collison in this young season has been one of the better things about this Kings team. He is looking to be a tremendous value to contract, and an invaluable (if not irreplaceable) piece of the current roster. The Kings languish almost every time that he is not on the floor. But this is fool’s gold as long as Collison is the third best player on the roster. His talent and productivity will likely not be enough to get this team to the next level.
The Kings trio has been fantastic when playing together. The trio has been almost 21 points per 100 possessions better than their opponents in their 330 minutes of playing time, next in line after the Cleveland trio of LeBron James-Kyrie Irving-Tristan Thompson and ten (!!!) combinations of Warriors lineups. With Cousins back, the Kings should get closer to the eighth seed.
If he were to join the Nets, he would also be the third best player, trailing Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson. Having a productive, cost effective player like Collison will do wonders for a team like Brooklyn that is trying to free up some cap space for the next couple of seasons. On the court,
Williams has had a pretty disappointing NBA career. The former number two pick in the 2011 draft underachieved in Minnesota and has spent the last season and change in Sacramento. He's playing better than he did in Minnesota, but he's a throw-in in this potential deal. He can extend beyond the three point line, but is a career 30 percent shooter from downtown. He can defend multiple positions and the Kings are a better team on that side of the ball when he's in the game, but he hasn't shown himself good enough to stick at one spot. If he were to join the Nets, he would likely be one of the last big men coming off of the bench.
Why would the Nets be interested in a player like Williams? He can become a free agent this offseason and if the team were to retain him, Williams would receive an $8.26 million qualifying offer. He won't get that so it's best to think of him as salary cap relief.
Thompson has been having the worst season of his six year career. He's shooting a career worst 42 percent from the field and is turning the ball over at a career high rate. If there's anything that can sort of give us a key as to why his percentages are down, it's in where he is taking his shots. In all of his previous seasons, the majority of his attempts came from within three feet of the basket. This year, his shots have come further away from the basket and when he has gotten attempts near the rim, he isn't making them as often as he usually does. He's a capable defender and solid rebounder, two traits that will help the Nets. He would be one of the first big men off the bench along with Mirza Teletovic.
Thompson, 28, is currently making $6 million this season. He has one more season to go on his current contract before a partially guaranteed $6.8 million in the 2016-2017 season. The guarantee would give him $2.65 million. Considering what he can provide and some of the other players with bad (from the team's perspective) contracts, JT isn't so bad.
Coming to Brooklyn: Nik Stauksas
2013-2014
Nik Stauksas
Games Played
27
Minutes per game
13.6
True Shooting percentage
42.3
Assist rate
12.8
Turnover rate
7.5
Usage rate
14.0
Rebound rate
4.1
PER
5
Win Shares per 48
-0.001
Stauskas, a 6'6" shooting guard, wasn't named in original Woj piece, but has been discussed as a piece in the trade. In fact, we've been told he is a critical piece. He's a 21-year-old rookie and the backup to starting shooting guard Ben McLemore. Sactown is allowing almost 113 points per 100 possessions when Stauskas is on the court, and the concerns about his defense coming into the draft appear to ring true at the moment. Zach Travis of sister site Maize N Brew told Sactown Royalty's Greg Wissinger back in July:
In the end, defense is just something he needs to focus on in the same way he spent time improving his offensive game. I don't see a physical reason why he can't be a good defender, or even a great one. It just depends on how bad he wants to improve in that area
Rookies almost always have bad stats, so I wouldn't worry about Stauksas' disappointing start right now. He's only 21 and earned some good reviews coming into the draft. As he gains more experience and playing time, the Canadian should begin to display the potential that made him a lottery pick. And he's not just a spot-up shooter either. He has good handles and athleticism. He was also the first white NBA player to wear the "I Can't Breathe" warm-up shirt.
Williams is the biggest name involved in this rumored transaction. Since he joined the Nets, Williams has dealt with injuries but hadn't missed a game this season until Sunday's contest against Detroit. In those games, he's averaged 15.6 points and 6.8 assists in 34.5 minutes a night. A recent shooting slump has wrecked his field goal percentage, and he currently sits at a career worst 40.3 percent from the field. Williams did play well in November, and was named "Player of the Week" after one particularly outstanding stretch. When Williams is on his game, he is attacking early in the shot clock and in transition. My colleague Reed Wallach has more on Deron when he's healthy and playing at his best.
Throughout his career, Deron has been best utilized when he isn't the lead option on offense. In Utah, he had Carlos Boozer along with him for most of the ride. In New Jersey and Brooklyn, he's had Brook Lopez (when healthy) and Joe Johnson alongside him. If he were to go to Sacramento, he'd be tasked with setting up Cousins and Gay. With Cousins in the low post, Williams can defer to him when it comes to taking shots.
Williams would also be another big trade acquisition in General Manager Pete D'Alessandro's belt. In the Kings section of the SB Nation NBA Preview, Akis Yerocostas (Aykis16) wrote of D'Alessandro and the Kings post Rudy Gay trade:
Since then, the Kings have been mentioned in just about every trade rumor imaginable, but two names keep coming up with consistency Josh Smith and Rajon Rondo. As the Kings are not a premier free agent destination, trades are usually the only way to get talents like those. Regardless of whether or not the Kings go after those two, expect Pete D'Alessandro and company to be aggressive. So strap on your seatbelt Kings fans, because I'm expecting more twists and turns before we get to the end of this rebuilding tunnel.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time All Star certainly fits the bill of a big name. With Kings management looking to boost attendance, a player of Williams' profile could help bring Kings fans back to Arco Sleep Train Arena.
Williams is on year three of the five year, $98 million max contract he signed back in 2012. After this season, he will be making over $21 million a year in the final two years. That max contract has alienated Nets fans in recent years as they feel his performance has not lived up to high expectations. At least nobody's put up a missing poster yet. Oh wait, they did.
Here's where things get incredibly interesting. At the beginning of the season, Plumlee was unable to get in a groove as he didn't get consistent minutes and even found himself demoted in the rotation of Jerome Jordan. However, like last season, things opened up once Brook Lopez went down due to injury. Since then, the big guy has averaged around 15 points and nine rebounds with three double doubles during that time frame.
Plumlee did play some with Boogie Cousins during the World Championships this past summer. A player like Plumlee would fit well with Cousins in Sacramento, but Nets insiders insist, in the strongest possible terms, that he is not going to be traded. Sacramento wants him included and the Nets reluctance to add him could scuttle the deal
He's young, full of energy and still has room to improve his game. He's begun to include a hook shot when he enters the low post, but is a player best utilized when being set up by a teammate. If Plumlee can extend out to 12 feet, he would become an even better player.
As a young player on his first contract, Plumlee's deal is very team-friendly. He's got one more season before his team option can be picked up (which it will) and then on to restricted free agency. Having a player pile up double doubles while making under $3 million sounds like a dream come true for management.
And again, the Nets brass is saying he will not be dealt. Might someone else. Sure, but not Plumlee.
Does this rumored trade make sense?
It's not the worst idea in the world. For the Kings, they would be gaining a star point guard that has deep postseason experience and has managed to stay mostly healthy for the first time in a while. If Williams can remain healthy, he provides another dimension to the Kings offense. In Plumlee, Sacramento has a second big to pair with Boogie in the starting lineup or a great sixth man coming off of the bench.
For the Nets, if they were to move Williams, they would save millions of dollars in the next couple of seasons. The Nets reportedly lost $144 million last year, and even though Mikhail Prokhorov is Scrooge McDuck taking a swim in the money bin, that's still a heavy hit. The move would fall in line with the Nets' goal of maintaining their 2016 cap space.
Here's where it can prove to be troublesome. For Sacramento, shocking as it sounds, you have to ask if Williams would actually be an upgrade over Collison. The two point guards have similar numbers across the board while Williams has the advantage from three point range and Collison on defense (although it's worth noting the different responsibilities required of both players). Collison is also three years younger than Deron and is signed to a friendlier contract from the team's point of view. Having to integrate a star player like Williams into the offense with high usage players like Gay and Cousins while transitioning to an interim coach could prove to be incredibly difficult. Tyrone Corbin, with whom D-Will was close in Utah, is the current coach, but just like the Kings are looking for "flashy" players as the Sacramento Bee noted over the weekend, the same is true of their coaching search.
With Williams departing, the Nets would be losing the face of the franchise and the person that led the Nets into Brooklyn. It's a tough sell considering Williams' stature and the trade that brought him East many years ago, but maybe it's time for the Nets to go in a new direction.
The Pistons shocked the NBA today by releasing forward Josh Smithper a report from ESPN's Marc Stein. Smith was in the second year of a four year, $54,000,000 contract but playing some of the worst basketball of his career, averaging just 13.1 points a game on an abysmal 39.1% from the field.
Sacramento has been linked to Smith multiple times in the past, with a deal nearly coming to fruition this summer, only to be rebuffed by Stan Van Gundy. We heard recently that the Kings still had some interest in Smith, but Sam Amick reports that the Kings were moving away from the idea.
Kings still pondering Josh Smith idea recently - & gravitating away from it - but shocking price tag change could certainly change that
This waiving changes all of that however. Smith will now be "on waivers" for 48 hours, during which a team can claim him but only under one of the following conditions (H/T to Larry Coon's CBA FAQ):
The team is far enough under the salary cap to fit the player's entire salary.
The team has a Disabled Player exception for at least the player's salary, and the player is on the last season of his contract.
The team has a trade exception for at least the player's salary.
The player has a minimum salary contract.
It's exceedingly likely that Smith will clear waivers and then become a Free Agent, able to go wherever he chooses. That makes Smith to Sacramento pretty unlikely even if the Kings are interested. Sacramento has no cap space and as such can only really offer Smith a minimum contract, which is also what multiple contenders would be able to offer. Sacramento is about $9 million over the cap currently. Still, that won't stop the Kings from trying.
Kings have interest in signing soon to be free agent Josh Smith, source said. Per @WojYahooNBA, Kings could’ve traded for him last offseason
And before you ask, no the Kings can't use a trade exception to sign Smith.
Personally, I'd be all for the Kings going after Smith. Smith is longtime friends with Rudy Gay, would be a big talent upgrade, and as of now, would come very cheaply. The Kings would be able to upgrade their bench by the mere fact of having Smith available without giving anything up. With the Kings, Smith benefits from having two scoring options ahead of him in Cousins and Gay, and we all see how Rudy Gay has been rejuvenated by playing with DeMarcus.
I say go for it. Just don't set your expectations too high, because this decision will be made by Smith himself, and Sacramento hasn't ever been a premier Free Agent destination.
David Lee has only appeared in one game this season because of a nagging hamstring injury. While the Warriors have started off the season 22-3, the power forward's return could not have come at a better time. Bogut's absence certainly creates a huge void on both ends of the floor. Although Golden State has been able to manage without him, Lee's ability to facilitate and make plays will be greatly appreciated. I took a look at how the Warriors may consider utilizing David Lee in article a couple weeks ago here.
The Golden State Warriors cruised past the Sacramento Kings 95-77 in their first meeting of the season and should look to do the same again. Lately, the Warriors have done a better job with handling the ball and minimizing turnovers (10 in the last game). The team rebounded from their lost in Memphis against the Oklahoma City Thunder. A key stat to the game was 32 assists which was evident of the Warriors ball movement and sharing of the basketball.
DeMarcus Cousins has been on a tear since coming back from viral infection. The big man is averaging 28.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals & 1.5 blocks in the past two games. Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights, and maybe Ognjen Kuzmic will have their hands full, throwing different looks at Cousins. The Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson look to get going from downtown, but don't count out Ben McLemore who is shooting 40% from threes this year per ESPN Stats.
The lineup of Harrison Barnes, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson has played 28:34 minutes together according to Basketball Reference. Without Bogut, the small-ball lineup will likely be used in short stints. Look for the Warriors to push the pace and run the break after missed shots.
Golden State has won 17 of their last 18 games. Let's pack the Roaracle and make it another W!
The Warriors are currently the best team in basketball which is not something I thought I'd ever be saying. Sacramento faces a tough test today in one of the toughest environments. Hopefully they're up for the challenge. Today's action tips off at 7:30 pm on Comcast SportsNet California and on KHTK 1140.
3 THINGS TO LOOK FOR
1. Golden State is currently the best defensive team in basketball. If you had told me a few years ago that that would be the case for a team led by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, I would have called you crazy, but there it is. Their offense isn't too shabby either at 9th in Offensive Rating. The Warriors gave the Kings one of their worst defeats of the season in the home opener, holding Sacramento to a season low 77 points on just 30.8% from the field. The Kings will have a difficult time cracking open this defense even playing perfectly, let alone committing unforced turnovers or settling for bad shots.
2. The biggest difference between tonight's game and the home opener is that Golden State will be without Andrew Bogut. Bogut is one of the few players in the NBA who can handle DeMarcus Cousins one on one. Without him, the Kings have a decided advantage in the middle, as Cousins will be up against the likes of Festus Ezeli and Marreese Speights. Cousins will likely see double and triple teams, and it will be up to him and his teammates to take advantage of the opportunities this creates.
3. It's hard to pinpoint a weakness in this Warriors team. They're among the league leaders in several categories. One thing Golden State doesn't do well is get to the line, at just 28th in the league in Free throws made and attempted. Sacramento on the other hand is first in both those categories. The Kings need to have a healthy Free Throw advantage to make up for the probable disparity of three pointers that Golden State will have on them.
The Warriors are a very deep team, but Stephen Curry is still the head of the snake. He's averaging 23.9 points, 7.6 assists, 2.0 steals with a ridiculously efficient .620 True Shooting Percentage. Collison has given Curry trouble in the past, and for the Kings to have a chance, he'll have to do so again by attacking him relentlessly on both ends.
PREGAME LIMERICK
The Golden State Warriors are for real, a win against them would be a steal. It won't be easy, not with Boogie still wheezy, but a win before Christmas would be just ideal.
PREDICTION
Kings 198, Warriors 0 as Golden State mistakenly thinks this is a road game and heads to Sacramento only to find the doors to Sleep Train arena locked.
Koufos isn't a glamorous player, but he is an effective one. Koufos is able to defend well on the block, rebound on both ends of the court, and also score efficiently in the limited touches he does get. Koufos is a key cog for the Grizzlies as the first big off the bench, and they likely wouldn't part ways with him for anything less than another impact player. Koufos is well known to GM Pete D'Alessandro, who was on the Denver Nuggets staff while Koufos was there. While Memphis is unlikely to trade Koufos to Sacramento, the Kings could opt to go after him this summer in Free Agency, as Koufos is in the last year of his contract and making just $3,000,000.
Still, the interest in Koufos and Brooklyn's Mason Plumlee seems to indicate that the Kings are still searching for another impact big man, someone that can contribute on both ends of the court but is also young enough to be part of the core long term.
The Kings headed down to Oakland hoping to bring home their first winning streak in weeks. Unfortunately, the Warriors came to play, and the Kings fell flat.
The Sacramento Kings going into the Oracle Arena and beating the Golden State Warriors would be a Christmas Story for the ages; unfortunately the Warriors were the only team to show up, and they played as if they were Home Alone. In fact, the Kings seemed to have one foot out the door on the way to a mini Christmas Vacation. The Splash Brothers weren't hitting from deep with the regularity we've grown accustomed to seeing, only hitting three shots from long range between them. They didn't need to however, as the Warriors were allowed to Jingle All The Way to the basket pretty much all game. It's a Wonderful Life right now if you're a Warriors fan, while Kings fans, after the hot start, are more than likely going to have a Black Christmas. It seems they want to win, they live big, but when they get too content, they Die Hard.
While a majority of the Kings decided to take the night off, telling their teammates "I'll Be Home For Christmas, so please don't count on me." there were a couple of guys who showed up. DeMarcus Cousins gave effort all night, but Festus Ezeli seemed to figure out a way to contain him, (at least when the Kings weren't containing him themselves, by going far too many stretches without Cousins getting any touches). Omri Casspi, in his first game since December 6th, gave us the energy we have fallen love with. If everyone played with his passion, this game may have been a different story. I like having Omri back on the court. Love, Actually.
It was a happy holiday for the Warriors. Justin Holiday, to be exact (this one just fell into my lap). Yes, that Justin Holiday. Despite not existing before tonight, (or so I assume), Justin Holiday was great. Dropping a career high 18 points. Festivus Ezeli (that how you spell it right?), in for the injured Andrew Bogut also had a great night, dropping 15 points and collecting 6 boards. He also played some of the better defense I have seen on Boogie all season. As a team, the Warriors were like a bunch of Gremlins, pestering the Kings on almost every shot. Despite the Warriors going small, and darn Elf-like almost all game, the Kings were not able to capitalize, and the Warriors beat the Kings with a team effort through and through.
Outside of having Omri Casspi back with Boogie, there isn't much to be positive about from tonight. The Kings confidence looks shot. Tyrone Corbin will probably be Surviving Christmas, and maybe much longer. The team cannot rest their hopes solely on who may or may not be coaching the team. The Kings now have three days off to collect themselves before the Suns take the Polar Express down to Sacramento. That's right, Isaiah Thomas is Coming to Town. In the meantime, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, sing a Christmas Carol or two, and be ready for what should be an exciting game on Friday!
Harden scored 44 points in a win over the Trail Blazers on Monday night, marking the third time in six games he has gone over 40 points.
Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden has been making a strong case for MVP all season, and that case got even stronger with a 44-point, seven-assist effort in a 110-95 beatdown of the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. Thirty-one of those points came in a dominant first half.
The 44-point performance matched a season high from just two weeks ago, when Harden put up 44 points in a thrilling overtime victory against the Sacramento Kings. The Rockets star has scored at least 41 points in three of his last six games.
This latest outing was Harden's most impressive yet. Along with his point and assist totals, he also had five steals and shot the ball efficiently. He shot 14-of-26 from the field, 4-of-9 from the three-point line and went a typical 12-of-13 from the free throw line.
The kicker in all of this? Harden played only 32 minutes, meaning his performance put him in elite company:
Harden's entire season has him in elite company. Harden is currently averaging 27 points, seven assists and just over six rebounds, something only Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird and John Havlicek have done over the course of an entire season, according to Basketball-Reference.com.Harden's 27 points per game is best in the league among qualified players and his seven assists per game is in the top 10 and tops among shooting guards.
He does so much for the Rockets' offense, and it really shows when comparing how they perform when he's on the court as opposed to on the bench. Houston has scored nearly 106 points per 100 possessions in Harden's 1,013 minutes, per NBA.com. That's an offense that would rank just outside the top 10. But in the 298 minutes he has been on the bench, the Rockets have scored just under 88 points per 100 possessions, a mark well below the league-worst Philadelphia 76ers.
Not only does Harden carry a massive load offensively, but he has shown improvement on the defensive side of the ball. He's averaging two steals after the five thefts on Monday, and he leads the league in Defensive Win Shares, per Basketball-Reference.com.
Furthermore, the Rockets have the second-best defensive rating in the NBA despite Dwight Howard missing 12 games. The defense stays about the same whether Harden is on the court or on the bench, and it's clear that he has made it a point to put forth a more concerted effort on that end after turning into a laughingstock the past few seasons.
With Harden playing strong two-way ball, Houston is 20-7 even with the prolonged absences of Howard and starting power forward Terrence Jones. Harden is a bona fide top-three MVP candidate, and the argument can be made that he's the current frontrunner because of both how good he has been and how important he is to the team.
Chris Broussard tweeted early Tuesday that the proposed deal between the Kings and Nets, which would have sent Deron Williams to Sacramento, is "virtually dead." Then, later, he sublty toned down the language and left some wiggle room that things could still happen.
First, his tweet...
Sources: Sac's main target on Nets was Mason Plumlee, not DWill. With Nets unwilling to give up Plumlee, talks virtually dead
However, in his ESPN story, Broussard offered some hope the talks could be revived, perhaps in a different form. In fact, in his story, he wrote the talks had "cooled" and "slowed," without ever using the words, "virtually dead," as he did in his tweet. They are "not completely dead."
While talks have slowed, a potential deal for Williams is not completely dead, according to sources. Sacramento was interested in acquiring Rajon Rondo, who was recently traded from Boston to Dallas, so it could remain in the market for a point guard.
One source said he expects talks between the two clubs to continue until the trade deadline in February.
The deal reportedly would send Williams and possibly another player to Sacramento for Darren Collison, Derrick Williams, Jason Thompson and possibly Nik Stauskas. Adrian Wojnarowski, who first reported the talks, also wrote the Kings insisted on Plumlee, who has been reportedly recommended to their front office by DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins and Plumlee became friends during the FIBA World Cup. League sources said the Nets would not include the 7-footer.
When Woj first reported the talks, Woj said no deal was imminent. League sources confirmed its basic outline, including Stauskas, to NetsDaily and Nets beat writers.The Nets are believed to be very active in trade talks, with reports that D-Will, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson are all available for the right price.
