2012 NBA Free Agency Diary
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Get the very latest news, notes and rumors surrounding 2012′s NBA Free Agency.
07/10/2012 12:30PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Devin Ebanks is expected to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year deal, according to sources close to the situation. Ebanks, who was a restricted free agent, received interest from a number of teams, but will likely agree to terms with the Lakers in the coming days.
07/10/2012 10:37AM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed two key players from last year’s team that went on a run to the Western Conference Finals. Daniel Green re-upped with a three-year $12 million deal while Boris Diaw re-signed for two years and $9 million. Diaw has an opt out after year one. Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported it first.
07/09/2012 6:10AM EST Eric Pincus:
HOOPSWORLD has updated 10 of the 30 Team Salary Pages for the 2012-13 NBA Season. More are on the way…
Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami HEAT
Milwaukee Bucks
Sacramento Kings
Utah Jazz
07/09/2012 5:19AM EST Eric Pincus:
The contract of Samuel Dalembert, of the Milwaukee Bucks, became fully guaranteed when he wasn’t waived by July 8th. Milwaukee could have cut him for the $1.5 million guarantee but will now be on hook for his entire $6.7 million salary.
07/08/2012 7:05 PM EST Eric Pincus:
Sources say both the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets have clear paths lined up to trade for Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic. While it’s been long presumed the Magic would just naturally want a center like Andrew Bynum or Brook Lopez in return, that’s not necessarily a given.
The Magic are going through the rebuilding process and the notion of signing players to long-term maximum (or near-max) contracts isn’t especially appealing. Perhaps the model of what Orlando is looking for would be the haul the Denver Nuggets got for Carmelo Anthony – young players, picks, etc.
The Lakers and Nets both have third teams involved. They’re also not the only teams pursuing Howard. Nothing is imminent to speak of.
At some point Orlando is going to need to make a decision. Extended delay will take the Nets out of the picture as free agents Kris Humphries, Lopez and others won’t wait all summer.
07/08/2012 3:52AM EST Alex Kennedy:
The New Orleans Hornets will acquire Ryan Anderson in a sign-and-trade with the Orlando Magic, according to sources close to the situation. Anderson, who was a restricted free agent, will sign a four-year, $36 million deal with the Hornets and the Magic will receive Gustavo Ayon in return. Full story here.
The Chicago Bulls won’t guarantee C.J. Watson’s contract for the 2012-13 season, according to sources close to the situation. Watson will become an unrestricted free agent if he clears waivers. The team will try to trade Watson before July 10, the deadline to waive him. Full story here.
07/08/2012 11:54AM EST Joel Brigham:
Kirk Hinrich is coming back to the Chicago Bulls, according to The Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson. Hinrich has verbally agreed to what is probably the Mini Mid-Level Exception on Sunday morning, worth $6 million over the next two years.
Hinrich was traded to Washington on draft day two years ago and has since also played for the Atlanta Hawks. While his abilities have admittedly waned in that time, he’s a great fit for Chicago this year as someone who can hold down the fort for Derrick Rose while rookie Marquis Teague comes into his own. Once Rose is healthy and Teague has developed, Hinrich will serve as a third-string point guard and a back-up for Richard Hamilton at the two.
This also likely means the end of C.J. Watson in Chicago. Watson, who has a $3.2 million team option, already was on the fence as to whether or not he’d be brought back, but this move and the drafting of Teague all but guarantees he’s out the door in Chicago.
The Bulls now will turn their attention to other players they may be able to get from the bargain bin. They reportedly have shown some interested in Michael Redd, and last week the team had a good, lengthy meeting with Gerald Green, but there was no indication that he’d be in Chicago’s price range. They definitely need someone like Green–athleticism and scoring from the wing–but if they choose not to match Omer Asik’s $24 million offer sheet from Houston, they could be in the market for a backup center as well. Someone like Chicago native Nazr Mohammad, who just won a ring with the Oklahoma City Thunder, would be a logical eventual target.
07/08/2012 4:17AM EST Eric Pincus:
According to HoopsHype, forward Ersan Ilyasova is close to an agreement to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks for the next five years at $45 million. HoopsHype credits Ilyasova’s agent Tolga Tugsavul as their direct source.
07/07/2012 2:15Pm EST Bill Ingram:
Lots of hot rumors around this weekend, even with it being something of a holiday as people continue to celebrate the Fourth Of July.
First and foremost, Ray Allen’s agreement to join the Miami HEAT is said to be the direct result of Allen’s disdain for Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. The two were widely rumored to have issues with each other, and Allen’s decision to take less money to join Miami is being driven by his desire for a change of scenery. It is also being rumored that Rashard Lewis, who played with Allen in Seattle, may be more inclined to sign with Miami to rejoin his former teammate.
Larry Miller has resigned as president of the Portland Trail Blazers.
HOOPSWORLD’s Tommy Beer says the New York Knicks are still in the market for a shooting guard to replace Landry Field, and that they may be taking a look at Danny Green, Carlos Delfino, Michael Redd, Courtney Lee, Shannon Brown and CJ Miles as somewhat of a shortlist of replacements.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are desperately interested in Portland’s Nicolas Batum, and with the word that Portland will match Minnesota’s offer sheet the Timberwolves are now working to try and secure a sign-and-trade with Portland. The Blazers are not at all interested, according to sources close to the situation. If the Timberwolves can’t shake Batum loose, they will continue their quest to add outside shooting, likely targeting O.J. May and Courtney Lee, in particular. Rick Adelman is insistent upon the team adding more veterans, so it’s possible that Michael Redd gets a look if the team misses out on other options.
Think it’s a coincidence that the Nets worked out a trade for Atlanta Hawks star Joe Johnson while Deron Williams was meeting with Dallas? Hardly seems to be the case, and now that Williams said that the Johnson deal was what sealed it for him to return to Brooklyn, it seems the timing of the Johnson deal couldn’t have been any better for Brooklyn . . .or worse for Dallas.
07/05/2012 8:49PM EST Alex Kennedy:
The Los Angeles Lakers have expressed interest in unrestricted free agent Jodie Meeks, according to sources close to the situation.
The Indiana Pacers have expressed interest in unrestricted free agent O.J. Mayo, according to sources close to the situation.
07/05/2012 3:31PM EST Alex Kennedy:
The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a buyout with Shawne Williams, according to Sam Amick of SI. He was owed $3.1 million next season and now becomes an unrestricted free agent.
The Toronto Raptors have decided to pull the qualifying offer that they had offered to Jerryd Bayless, making the point guard an unrestricted free agent, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.
07/05/2012 7:57PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
Restricted free agent point guard Jeremy Lin has agreed to a four-year $30 million dollar offer sheet with the Houston Rockets. The New York Knicks, who agreed to terms with point guard Jason Kidd earlier today, have the right to match and are expected to.
07/05/2012 5:10PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Brandon Bass has agreed to a three-year deal with the Boston Celtics, according to sources close to the power forward. Bass can officially re-sign with the Celtics on July 11, when the league’s moratorium ends. Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed.
07/05/2012 4:55PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Jason Kidd has changed his mind and agreed to a multi-year deal with the New York Knicks, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. Kidd was nearing a three-year, $9 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, but backed out to join the Knicks.
07/05/2012 3:09PM EST Alex Kennedy:
After trading Kyle Lowry, the Houston Rockets are searching for a starting point guard. While they have offered restricted free agent Jeremy Lin a four-year, $30 million offer sheet, Houston is also considering several other options. The Rockets will meet with restricted free agent Aaron Brooks this weekend, according to sources close to the situation. After signing Goran Dragic and drafting Kendall Marshall, it’s unlikely the Phoenix Suns will match a large offer sheet for Brooks.
07/05/2012 3:09PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Here are the latest news and notes from around the league:
The Houston Rockets have traded Kyle Lowry to the Toronto Raptors in a deal that returns a lottery-protected first round pick and Gary Forbes. Details here.
The Los Angeles Clippers have signed Jamal Crawford to a four-year, $24 million deal. Details here.
Jameer Nelson’s three-year deal is believed to be worth $19.7 million, according to league sources.
07/05/2012 11:17AM EST Alex Kennedy:
Jameer Nelson and the Orlando Magic have agreed to a multi-year deal, according to sources close to the situation. Nelson will officially re-sign with the Magic on July 11, when the league’s moratorium ends. On Thursday afternoon, Nelson tweeted: “Glad to say I’ve reached an agreement with the Magic… I’m blessed to have the best fans and a great organization supporting me!” Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed.
07/05/2012 2:09AM EST Alex Kennedy:
Jason Kidd is on the verge of re-signing with the Dallas Mavericks, according to sources close to the situation. Kidd is expected to reach an agreement with the Mavericks in the coming days. The veteran point guard considered joining the New York Knicks, but will instead return to Dallas on a multi-year deal. Last season, Kidd averaged 6.2 points, 5.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds for the Mavericks.
07/05/2012 1:10AM EST Bill Ingram:
According to multiple reports, the OKC Thunder have reached a two-year agreement with free agent center Hasheem Thabeet.
07/05/2012 1:00AM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
After agreeing to sign-and-trade Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers once the moratorium period comes to an end, the Phoenix Suns have signed their new point guard of the future: Goran Dragic. According to Marc Stein of ESPN Dragic will be signing a four-year $34 million deal on July 11th to return to Phoenix.
07/04/2012 2:25PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Rashard Lewis has been in contact with a number of contenders including the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Miami Heat, according to sources close to the situation. Lewis, who was bought out by the New Orleans Hornets last week, is an unrestricted free agent.
07/04/2012 2:24PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Steve Nash to the New York Knicks in a sign-and-trade is heating up. Full story here.
07/03/2012 10:31PM EST Joel Brigham:
Chris Broussard is reporting via Twitter that New Orleans Hornets restricted free agent Eric Gordon will agree to a maximum $58 million offer sheet from the Phoenix Suns. Gordon met with the Suns at length today and apparently liked what he saw enough to go on ahead and agree to a deal before even meeting with all the other teams that may have had an interest in him.
“I strongly feel (the Suns) are the right franchise for me,” Gordon told Broussard. “Phoenix is just where my heart is.”
That makes it sound like he really, really hopes the Hornets won’t match the sheet, but $14.5 a year average for a player who could be one of the best two or three shooting guards in the league by the time his four year deal wraps up is appropriate, and it would be pretty outrageous for New Orleans to let him walk, despite the max money. Expect them to match the offer and keep Gordon in New Orleans to play with Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers.
07/03/2012 9:13PM EST Alex Kennedy:
The Los Angeles Lakers are making a “hard push” to acquire Steve Nash, according to David Aldridge. The Lakers join the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks as teams that are pursuing Nash.
Much like the Knicks, the Lakers would have to put together a sign-and-trade to land the star point guard. The Lakers still have the $8.9 million traded-player exception that they acquired when they dealt Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks.
07/03/2012 9:00PM EST Bill Ingram:
According to multiple reports, the Houston Rockets have withdrawn the qualifying offer that would have made Courtney Lee a restricted free agent. Lee is now free to sign anywhere he chooses, so expect renewed interest from some of his former suitors: Chicago, Indiana, Minnesota, among them.
07/03/2012 7:30PM EST Alex Kennedy:
After weighing his options and meeting with the Dallas Mavericks, Deron Williams has decided to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets. Williams announced the “tough decision” on his Twitter account, posting a picture of the Nets logo.
Williams will sign a five-year, $100 million deal with the Nets. The most that the Mavericks could offer was four years and $75 million.
The 28-year-old can officially re-sign with the Nets on July 11, when the league’s moratorium ends.
Brooklyn has already made several moves to build around their superstar point guard. In recent days, the Nets re-signed Gerald Wallace as well as traded for Joe Johnson and Reggie Evans. Now, with Williams re-signed, Brooklyn will look to fill out the rest of their roster.
Last season, Williams averaged 21.0 points and 8.7 assist with the Nets.
Now, other free agent point guards around the NBA will begin to sign. Available floor generals such as Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin, Ramon Sessions, Goran Dragic and Aaron Brooks were in a holding pattern as Williams considered his options. With Williams off the market, teams will begin to negotiate with others, starting with Nash. After those two dominoes fall, expect a lot of movement from other point guards.
07/03/2012 3:40PM EST Stephen Brotherston
The possible acquisition of Landry Fields fits in well with Raptors head coach Dwane Casey’s search for young veterans who can shoot and play defense. Fields is an excellent catch-and-shoot wing with range out to the three point line and displays a solid basketball I.Q., court vision and sound decision-making at the offensive end of the floor. Fields has been described as a “glue-guy” and above-average defender, who only rarely gets beat off the dribble or is found out of position in his own end.
Fields struggled last season in New York at both ends of the floor at different times, but Casey believes shooters are born and there is a good case to be made that Fields will return to his rookie form in the more up-tempo Toronto system. The addition of Fields and Terrence Ross will push DeMar DeRozan to develop more quickly.
07/03/2012 3:00PM EST Bill Ingram
While there is little chance that the New York Knicks let Jeremy Lin slip away, add the Houston Rockets to the list of teams willing to make that decision a little more difficult for the Knicks. Having lost out on Goran Dragic (for now), the Rockets are looking at other options, and will reportedly take a shot at Lin, whom they had for a brief time last season.
07/03/2012 2:19 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
The Boston Celtics are nearing an agreement with unrestricted free agent shooting guard Jason Terry according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Terry has been with the Dallas Mavericks since 2004. He helped the team win a championship and was named the 6th Man of the Year award during that time. This reportedly does not eliminate the possibility of Ray Allen returning to the Celtics. Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is on the record saying he would like Terry and Allen next season.
Bill Ingram: If Jason Terry does, indeed, sign with the Celtics it will remove the Dallas Mavericks from their championship team by one more significant step. Terry doesn’t get enough credit for what he brought to the Mavericks, both on and off the court. His toughness was as much the reason Dallas won the 2011 title as anything Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki did. If the Celtics land Jet Terry, they are back in contention next season.
07/03/2012 1:55PM ET Eric Pincus:
A source confirms that the Los Angeles Lakers are indeed interested in dealing Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard. It’s a scenario the Lakers have been working on quietly for some time.
Both sides have concerns, however, as both Howard and Bynum are going into the final years of their contracts. Neither team wants to move their All-Star center for a player who leaves after one season.
Andrew might be more likely to accept an extension but to date, as often reported by HOOPSWORLD, Howard has resisted a move to Los Angeles.
Should the Lakers attain Howard, they would still continue down the path of moving Pau Gasol for depth at a cheaper dollar.
The other team in LA, the Clippers, are about to sign Blake Griffin to an extension and center DeAndre Jordan can block any trade until December. While the Clippers certainly have their eye on the situation and some interest, the organization is moving forward as if they’re out of the discussion.
07/03/2012 1:30PM ET Bill Ingram:
The chess match between the Toronto Raptors and the New York Knicks has begun, with Steve Nash going to the winner. The Raptors have an offer sheet in place for Landry Fields that will look much like the one that Omer Asik has waiting in Houston. He would make $5 million the first year, $5.2 million the second year and a balloon amount in year three to $8.5 million. Seem like a bit much for Landry Fields? That’s because it is a bit much, unless you take the Knicks into consideration. If the Raptors land Fields, it removes a chip that the Knicks could have used in a sign-and-trade with Phoenix, which is the only way the Knicks can land Nash. With this move, the Raptors could be one step closer to landing their coveted free agency prize.
07/03/2012 12:31 PM Yannis Koutroupis:
The Brooklyn Nets have come to a free agent agreement with forward Mirza Teletovic according to Howard Beck of the New York Times. Teletovic, a native of Bosnia, went undrafted in 2007 and since has developed into one of the best power forwards in Europe. He’s coming off of a 21 point, six rebound campaign for Vitoria. The agreement is expected to be for the full mid-level exception over three years.
07/03/2012 11:35EST Bill Ingram:
Houston’s meeting with point guard Goran Dragic didn’t go so well, with the Rockets essentially telling his camp, “Good luck with that,” regarding their number. Sources close to the situation tell HOOPSWORLD Dragic’s camp was asking for $10 million in the first year of a multi-year contract, and that’s not a number Houston is willing to match. It’s not out of the question that Dragic and the Rockets could revisit the situation, but only if Dragic finds that teams like Dallas, Toronto, Portland and others who have shown interest aren’t willing to pony up the dough.
07/03/2012 11:30 AM EST Alex Kennedy:
The Magic and Nets are discussing a blockbuster trade that would send Dwight Howard and others to Brooklyn for a package consisting of Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks and draft picks. How would this deal work? The swap would have to be completed as two separate deals and seven different players would have to accept a sign-and-trade, according to ESPN’s John Hollinger.
In other news, the Indiana Pacers will meet with free agents Gerald Green and Ian Mahinmi at some point in the coming days, according to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.
07/03/2012 11:00 EST Yannis Koutroupis:
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports unrestricted free agent power forward Antawn Jamison is set to meet with the Charlotte Bobcats. Jamison is a favorite in the Charlotte area dating back to his collegiate days at North Carolina.
07/03/2012 10:45 AM EST Alex Kennedy:
Unrestricted free agent Terrence Williams has received interest from the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns, according to sources close to the situation. Williams, who averaged 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season with the Kings, is weighing his options.
07/03/2012 12:26 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
Building on what Steve Kyler wrote earlier, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and Miami HEAT have all expressed interest in unrestricted free agent forward Rashard Lewis. Lewis shares mutual interest with the HEAT, Lakers and Knicks in particular. They are all three over the cap, meaning they can only offer the mini-mid level to Lewis.
07/03/2012 12:17 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard the Phoenix Suns are currently wining and dining restricted free agent Eric Gordon. He reports that they are considering offering him a max deal worth $58 million over four years. The New Orleans Hornets have the right to match any offer sheet that Gordon signs. They’ve said that they would match any deal, but a max offer makes the decision a little bit tougher.
The Suns are searching for their next franchise player as it appears point gaurd Steve Nash, who has been their leader since 2004, is headed elsewhere. The Toronto Raptors reportedly offered him a three-year $36 million contract, while the New York Knicks would also be willing to top Phoenix’s offer of $6 million a year with a sign-and-trade deal.
07/02/2012 11:20 PM EST Bill Ingram:
As we reported in this space yesterday, the Houston Rockets and Goran Dragic’s camp appear to be of differing opinions on where his new contract should start. Tonight ESPN is reporting the two sides are still “far apart,” and HOOPSWORLD was told by a source with knowledge of the situation that while Houston would like to start Dragic at $8 million for next season, Dragic’s camp is said to be asking for $10 million to start his new contract. That’s a lot for Dragic, but with a number of other teams ready to sit down and discuss his future, the Rockets may have to pony up a bit more than they had planned if they are serious about keeping Dragic.
07/02/2012 11:10PM EST Alex Kennedy:
On Tuesday morning, Jamal Crawford will fly to Los Angeles for a meeting with the Clippers. Several other teams have expressed interest in Crawford, but the Clippers will be the first team to meet face-to-face with the veteran shooting guard. The Clippers are aggressively pursuing Crawford and are currently the frontrunner to sign the 32-year-old, according to sources close to the situation.
07/02/2012 7:40PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Restricted free agent Devin Ebanks has drawn interest from a number of teams including the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, according to sources close to the situation. The Los Angeles Lakers extended a qualifying offer to Ebanks last week, which means they can match any offer sheet that the 22-year-old signs.
07/02/2012 7:03PM EST Joel Brigham:
Danny Ferry is cleaning house in Atlanta. Not only is the Joe Johnson deal done, purging the Hawks of that ridiculous contract, but Ferry also has just dealt Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Devin Harris. Williams had two years and almost $16 million left on his deal (assuming he picked up his player option next season, which he likely would have), while Harris’ $8.5 million deal expires at the end of the year. Basically, this saves the team over $7 million and puts the exclamation point on Kirk Hinrich’s departure. Great financial deal for Atlanta, and Utah gets their small forward.
07/02/2012 5:55PM EST Bill Ingram:
ESPN reports that the meeting between the Dallas Mavericks and Deron Williams is officially over, and that Donnie Nelson, Rick Carlisle and “special consultant” and former Maverick Michael Finley made their best pitch. Williams has set no time frame for his decision, but it probably became academic when he walked out of his meeting with the Mavs and saw the news below.
07/02/2012 5:30PM EST Bill Ingram:
It appears the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets have the framework of a deal in place for Joe Johnson, with multiple sources now reporting that the Nets would send Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow and a sign-and-trade of Stevenson for Johnson. It’s definitely worth noting that MarShon Brook and Gerald Green are not part of this deal . . .both were initially targets of Atlanta.
07/02/2012 5:05PM EST Bill Ingram:
The Golden State Warriors are all but out of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, according to a report by Scott Howard-Cooper on NBA.com. The acquisition of Andrew Bogut was cited as a primary reason when Warriors owner Joe Lacob spoke the media on Monday.
“I never say never, but we have somebody called Andrew Bogut,” said Lacob. “He is, in our opinion, one of the three best centers in the whole NBA, and in most people’s opinion. And he wants to be here and is a great fit. We think we have a really nice nucleus now going forward.”
If the Warriors are out, it could mean Houston is one step closer to getting Howard, whether he wants to be there or not.
07/02/2012 4:00PM EST Bill Ingram:
Marcus Camby is one of the names being talked about a lot today, with sources all over the league indicating interest. The New York Knicks are said to be interested, but Camby wants to start, and that won’t happen with Tyson Chandler in New York. Camby also has interest in playing for Miami, but would want their entire $3 million exception, and Miami would prefer to use that on more than one player. Meanwhile, Jonathan Feigen at the Houston Chronicle reports that Houston is Camby’s preferred destination, and the Rockets clearly have a need at starting center. Some reports have Camby interested “despite” the Asik offer sheet, which is odd. There’s no chance Asik starts, not if Houston is hoping to make the playoffs next season.
07/02/2012 3:31 PM EST Steve Kyler:
There is a team in LA that might have a shot at landing and keeping Dwight Howard… and its not the Lakers.
As was covered in the NBA AM this morning…. The LA Clippers have emerged as “a real and viable suitor” according to sources with knowledge of the Magic’s initial conversations with teams regarding Howard. New Magic GM Rob Hennigan is playing this process close to the vest, but there is a real sense that if Howard genuinely can’t be sent to the Brooklyn Nets, that a move to Clippers with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin might sway him to expand his list of teams he’d look at long-term. Howard has been adamant that Brooklyn is the only team he’d agree to a long-term agreement with, however sources say that Howard may have to warm up to the idea that its not going to happen.
Sources close to the process say the Clippers are in the game, but they would want some level of assurances that Howard would consider staying long-term before they would part with guys they like. Clipper big man DeAndre Jordan, point guard Eric Bledsoe and guard Caron Butler have been mentioned, however sources say that no one is really talking specific names at this point as all parties are trying to judge what the market really is especially with Howard still recovering from back surgery.
Its clear that a number of teams have interest in Howard, even as a rental player for one year, however its unclear exactly how much a team will offer for Howard given his stance on a long term deal.
07/02/2012 2:20PM EST Eric Pincus:
According to Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports, Los Angeles Lakers guard Darius Morris has accepted the team’s qualifying offer to stay with the team for another year.
The NBA is currently in the annual moratorium in which moves are severely restricted (trades, general free agent signings) but one of the allowed moves (from July 1-10) includes restricted free agents agreeing to their qualifying offers.
Morris is expected to make $962,195 for the 2012/13 NBA Season. He would remain a restricted free agents next summer should the team issue another qualifying offer.
Because Darius has taken a one-year deal and will have Early Bird Rights upon completion, he has to consent to any trade the Lakers might pursue. In other words he has an implicit no-trade clause.
07/02/2012 3:18PM EST Eric Pincus:
Chris Kaman will work out for the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
Given the uncertainty of the Roy Hibbert offer sheet (a max deal from the Portland Trail Blazers), Kaman might be an alternative for the Pacers. Kaman is looking for a contract worthy of a starting center. Would the Pacers keep Hibbert and sign Kaman or is Chris the alternative to potentially overpaying Hibbert?
07/02/2012 2:20PM EST Bill Ingram:
The Indiana Pacers have reached a new five-year agreement with point guard George Hill, As Yannis Koutroupis noted below. It remains to be seen whether Darren Collison or Hill winds up being the team’s starter, but the experience and veteran leadership he brought to the team last season were viewed as critically important to the success of the team in 2011-12.
Jeff Green was expected to re-sign with the Boston Celtics this summer, and according to multiple reports, that deal is close to being in place.
Marcus Camby lives in Houston, but returning to the Houston Rockets is anything but a foregone conclusion. Camby is looking for a starting job, and he will consider any team with an opening in the starting rotation.
New Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan has more on his plate than just Dwight Howard, if you can believe it. He’s also working on a gameplan for JJ Redick going forward. According to reports, Redick’s situation will be resolved this week.
07/02/2012 2:05 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer has been informed by J.J. Hickson’s agent, Andy Miller, that the Bobcats have reached out to his client, who is an unrestricted free agent.
07/02/2012 12:23 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
Unrestricted free agent big man Jordan Hill is currently in Minnesota meeting with the Timberwolves. Hill is coming off of a strong performance for the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs. Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman is leading the push for Hill, who he coached in Houston during his time with the Rockets. The Lakers have also contacted Hill about a new deal.
07/02/2012 12:36 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
The Indiana Pacers and guard George Hill have come to an agreement on a five-year contract, according to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star. The Pacers traded for Hill, who averaged nine points, three rebounds and two assists this season, during last year’s draft. Terms of the deal are not yet known.
07/01/2012 12:23 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
Unrestricted free agent point guard Chauncey Billups could be playing for his third team in as many seasons. When he was amnestied by the New York Knicks last offseason sources indicated that he wanted to go to the Miami HEAT. He was very adamant that he did not want to be claimed off waivers by a non-playoff team, but the Los Angeles Clippers did so anyway. Billups is believed to still have interest in taking his talents to South Beach, but nothing is close yet. The HEAT are just one of several contenders he would be open to joining. Thanks to the moves they made to improve, the Clippers are still in the mix as well.
07/02/2012 11: 50 AM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking at this free agency period as a chance to push their team into the playoff picture. Their top target is restricted free agent Nicolas Batum, who they will sign to an offer sheet on July 11. Sources close to the situation believe that the Portland Trail Blazer’s willingness to match is contingent on whether or not they get restricted free agent center Roy Hibbert, who they have made a max offer to.
In the case that they miss out on Batum, the Timberwolves are hoping that unrestricted free agent shooting guard Jamal Crawford is still on the market. Crawford has a long list of suitors, though, and they aren’t optimistic that he’ll be around once the Batum situation sorts itself out.
Sources indicated that unrestricted free agent shooting guard O.J. Mayo is not in the Timberwolves’ plans even if they end up missing out on Batum and Crawford. They do not view Mayo as a good fit for their current group and certainly have no interest in paying the price tag he has this summer.
As reported, the Timberwolves would love to add veteran guard Brandon Roy. Roy has a great relationship with Timberwolves assistant coach Billy Bayno. The two worked together in Portland, and Roy fits Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman and general manager David Kahn’s desire to add experience.
While looking for help on the perimeter via free agency, the Timberwolves are keeping a close eye on Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Pau Gasol. Sources confirmed that the Timberwolves would be willing to help the Lakers facilitate a bigger deal if it helped them land Gasol since their attempts to trade for him directly have not been successful.
07/02/2012 5:09 AM EST Eric Pincus:
HOOPSWORLD is hard at work revamping the team salary pages for the 2012-13 NBA season. The Los Angeles Lakers are deep in the tax and it’s only going to get worse next year.
07/02/2012 2:18 AM EST Alex Kennedy:
The Los Angeles Clippers are in advanced talks with unrestricted free agent Jamal Crawford, sources close to the situation tell HOOPSWORLD. The Clippers are aggressively pursuing Crawford, and are hoping to fly the 32-year-old guard out to Los Angeles later this week for a face-to-face meeting. No deal is imminent, but talks are ongoing.
07/02/2012 1:42 AM EST Alex Kennedy:
Andre Miller will re-sign with the Denver Nuggets, agreeing to a three-year deal, according to Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
07/02/2012 12:00 PM EST Eric Pincus:
HOOPSWORLD is hard at work revamping the team salary pages for the 2012-13 NBA season. The following are ready to go:
Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets
Utah Jazz
Check these pages regularly as they’ll be updated with each and every move, now in even greater detail.
07/01/2012 11:59 PM EST Eric Pincus:
The Los Angeles Clippers are working to lock in Chauncey Billups while adding in Jamal Crawford. Nothing can be executed until July 11th, but the team is hoping to have the heavy lifting done by then. Just because the team is hoping to sign Crawford doesn’t mean they won’t bring back either Randy Foye or Nick Young. The team needs a small forward to back up Caron Butler, Billups injury status (Achilles’) may have him miss the start of the season and head coach Vinny Del Negro likes to run out a three-guard rotation.
The market will determine if the Clippers can keep Foye or Young. Also, the team will re-introduce Lamar Odom on Monday.
07/01/2012 10:47 PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Brandon Roy has already met with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks, according to sources close to the situation. The 27-year-old shooting guard will also meet with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors in the coming days. Roy, who sat out last season due to knee issues, continues to weigh his options.
07/01/2012 9:32 PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Unrestricted free agent Marcus Camby has narrowed his list of teams to the New York Knicks, Miami HEAT, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, according to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. The 38-year-old has been in contact with all six teams.
07/01/2012 8:17 PM EST Alex Kennedy:
This time last offseason, many NBA players were signing abroad as a result of the lockout. While most of the players who signed overseas returned to the NBA at midseason, several players remained with their foreign teams for the duration of the year. Here are several free agents to keep an eye on as they return to the league after one-year stints overseas:
Andrei Kirilenko spent last season with the CSKA Moscow in the Russian Professional Basketball League. Now, after averaging 14.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists overseas, the 31-year-old is expected to sign with an NBA team this summer. The Brooklyn Nets have been mentioned as a possibility since Kirilenko is close with Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov. The Utah Jazz is also an option since Kirilenko has spent the duration of his 10-year NBA career with the franchise.
Sonny Weems spent last season with Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania. The 25-year-old was one of the first NBA players to sign abroad during the lockout, and he had a one of the best overseas experiences. Weems averaged 15.5 points and 5 rebounds, and expanded his game, specifically improving his ball handling and shooting while in Lithuania. The Toronto Raptors extended a qualifying offer to Weems, making him a restricted free agent. The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons have expressed interest in Weems, according to sources close to the situation.
Aaron Brooks spent last season with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association. The 27-year-old played well in China, leading Guangdong all the way to the CBA Finals, where he averaged over 30 points per game before losing to Stephon Marbury and the Beijing Ducks. Now, Brooks is excited to return to the NBA. The Phoenix Suns extended him a qualifying offer last week, which means he’s a restricted free agent. Several teams contacted Brooks shortly after midnight on July 1. Whether he returns to Phoenix will largely depend on what happens with unrestricted free agent Steve Nash.
Keep an eye on these three players as they look to make their return to the NBA.
07/01/2012 8:05 PM EST Bill Ingram:
The plot thickens in Houston, where the Rockets will sign Chicago Bulls restricted free agent Omer Asik to an offer sheet (see below), and Indiana Pacers restricted free agent Eric Gordon paid a visit today. Now, it sounds like Goran Dragic isn’t quite as sure a thing as some previously believed. While Houston was rumored to have offered the prized point guard a contract starting at $8 million, sources familiar with the situation tell HOOPSWORLD the number coming from Dragic’s camp now starts at $10 million. Dragic is a nice young player and had a breakout season for Houston, but is he worth four years and $40 million? Considering Houston has all but traded starting point guard Kyle Lowry to Toronto or Orlando, they had better be sure.
07/01/2012 8:00 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
A source close to Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum’s camp reiterated that while he is not hoping to be traded, he would not be opposed to a rumored move that would send him to the Orlando Magic in exchange for disgrunted center Dwight Howard.
Bynum has long been interested in taking the next step in his career and becoming the featured option, something that is years away from happening in L.A. Playing for the Magic would give Bynum the opportunity to prove himself as a franchise player as he looks to earn a max contract once his current deal expires.
Bynum is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of next season. However, he’s eligible to receive a maximum extension through next June. It’s still too early in the process to know if the Orlando Magic have genuine interest in swapping Howard for Bynum and if they’d rather extend him immediately or wait if they did.
07/01/2012 7:59 PM EST Yannis Koutroupis:
According to a source, former Oakland guard Reggie Hamilton, who went undrafted after leading the nation in scoring this past season, has agreed to play for the Indiana Pacers summer league team.
07/01/2012 7:41 PM EST Alex Kennedy:
The Houston Rockets have reached agreement with Omer Asik on a three-year, $25.1 million contract, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Asik is a restricted free agent, which means the Chicago Bulls will be able to match the offer sheet.
07/01/2012 7:31 PM EST Steve Kyler:
The 76ers have reached an agreement with Lavoy Allen on a two-year $6 million guaranteed contract extension. The Sixers were looking for four year deal, and settled on a two-year fully guaranteed deal.
Allen considered his options in free agency and settled in on the new deal with Philadelphia.
07/01/2012 7:00PM EST Bill Ingram:
The Chicago Bulls seem to be addressing backup center Omer Asik first, as the Chicago Tribune‘s KC Johnson reports that the Bulls will wait to see what Asik winds up costing them before making decisions on other players like Kyle Korver. The Houston Rockets are among the teams that are interested in talking with Asik’s camp, though the Bulls are expected to match any offer a team might make to Asik.
07/01/2012 6:45PM EST Alex Kennedy:
The Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers were among the teams to contact unrestricted free agent Jamal Crawford last night, according to sources close to the situation. Crawford is looking for a multi-year deal. Last season, the 32-year-old averaged 14 points in 60 games with the Portland Trail Blazers.
07/01/2012 6:25 PM EST Bill Ingram:
One of the more interesting pieces of news on this, the first day of NBA free agency, is the story coming out of Brooklyn that has the Nets talking to the Atlanta Hawks about acquiring Joe Johnson for what amounts to cap space in the form of expiring contracts. So the Nets have already worked out a new contract with All-Star forward, will presumably have Brook Lopez back, and will look to add Joe Johnson to the mix in an all-out effort to keep Deron Williams in Brooklyn.
Frankly, it’s pretty hard to imagine Williams walking away from that situation, even to play at home in Dallas with Dirk Nowitzki.
Clearly the gauntlet has been thrown down in what amounts to a contest between two of the biggest spenders in the NBA. Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban have exchanged some friendly jibes back and forth through the media, but this is about to get very serious very quickly.
07/01/2012 5:54 PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Here are the latest rumors from around the league:
Deron Williams will meet with the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks on Monday, a source close to the point guard confirms. Williams hasn’t made a decision. In fact, he has been seeking advice from people in his life, asking where he should sign. It’s safe to say Williams is still weighing his options.
The Los Angeles Clippers have expressed interest in a number of veteran shooting guards, according to sources close to the situation. Last night, the Clippers reached out to several two-guards including Ray Allen, Jamal Crawford and Jason Terry.
Several teams contacted restricted free agent Aaron Brooks last night, according to sources close to the situation. The Phoenix Suns can match any offer that Brooks receives, but his future is up in the air as the team waits for Steve Nash to make a decision. The 27-year-old spent last season in China.
Jodie Meeks has received interest from a number of teams that are in the market for a shooter. The 24-year-old, who averaged 8.4 points last season for the Philadelphia 76ers, was contacted by several teams after midnight last night. He’s currently weighing his options.
Donté Greene is an unrestricted free agent since the Sacramento Kings didn’t extend him a qualifying offer last week. The 24-year-old, who averaged 5.4 points last season, has already drawn interest from three teams, according to sources close to the situation.
07/01/2012 5:28 PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Ray Allen is in no hurry to make a decision, according to Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Allen is weighing all of his options, which include the Boston Celtics, Miami HEAT, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets.
07/01/2012 5:12 PM EST Steve Kyler:
Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune is reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves have met with Boston center Greg Stiemsma and will meet tomorrow with Blazers forward Nicolas Batum.
In related, the Phoenix Suns sent a contingent of staffers to meet with Wolves’ forward Michael Beasley, the Suns are said to have more than a passing interest in Beasley and are willing to make a sizable commitment to him.
The LA Lakers were believed to be Beasley’s first choice; however a sizable deal would require a sign-and-trade. It seems the market might be a little bit bigger for Bease than initially expected.
07/01/2012 4:51 PM EST Steve Kyler:
Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN.com are reporting that the talks between the Atlanta hawks and the New Jersey Nets have hit a snag; mainly because Atlanta does not want to take back much in terms of salary cash and that they want Nets guard MarShon Brooks included in the deal.
The Nets are trying to maintain some of their flexibility in the deal and are making it contingent on the team re-signing Deron Williams.
The Nets have come to a verbal agreement with Gerald Wallace on a four-year $40 million deal.
Joe Johnson has four years and $89.29 million left on his deal including a 2012-2013 salary of $19.75 million
07/01/2012 4:34 PM EST Steve Kyler:
ESPN’s Marc Stein is reporting that the Toronto Raptors after meeting with Suns’ guard Steve Nash offered him a three-year $36 million contract. Nash is said to be weighing his options and will meet with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
The Raptors have roughly $11 million in salary cap space meaning they would either need to trade away players to create the additional space or would have to use their Amnesty cut option on a salary to get far enough below the cap to make the contract work.
Raptors’ GM Bryan Colangelo has been clear that he’d be open to using the Amnesty cut if the right player was available. Most insiders believe the Raptors would try to liquidate Jose Calderon in trade before cutting him outright, although that does remain an option if the Raptors get the nod from Nash.
The Raptors would also like to address their Small Forward position.
07/01/2012 2:44 PM EST Steve Kyler:
The Magic got a little good news late yesterday, apparently Magic forward Earl Clark reversed course on his decision to opt-out of his deal as was originally reported. HOOPSWORLD’s Alex Kennedy is reporting that Earl notified the Magic late in the day on Friday that he would be staying in the final year of his deal worth $1.2 million for next season.
07/01/2012 10:28 AM EST Joel Brigham:
We’ve almost got our first verbal agreement of the summer! Gerald Wallace is close to agreeing to re-up with the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein. According to the report, the deal was originally thought to be worth 3 years and $24 million, but Stein is suggesting the deal will be for four years. Assuming the extra year is valued the same as the first three, we could be looking at a 4-year, $32 million deal for Wallace to remain a Net.
Deron Williams is still the team’s first priority, but keeping veteran talent like Wallace in the fold is key in convincing Williams to stay.
The deal can’t be signed before July 11th, but we’ll stay on top of when it becomes official, which should be any time now.
UPDATE: The agreement is in place. 4 years, $40 million, according to the New York Post. Deal was worth more than expected, and $10 million a year for four years could be considered steep for Wallace at this point in his career. I guess they weren’t going to lose their lottery pick for a two-month rental on the guy, huh?
07/01/2012 9:35AM EST Bill Ingram:
It will be interesting to see what happens in Indiana now that the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to offer restricted free agent center Roy Hibbert a max contract. The previous regime in Indiana didn’t view Hibbert as a max-type player, and doubted that anyone would make him an offer as such. However, with a new management team in place, Hibbert might warrant that kind of deal. The concern, of course, is that if Hibbert is established as a max player it will inflate the value of better players at his position. Hibbert is a nice player, no doubt, but having just averaged 12.8 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Pacers, it draws into question just how little center talent there is in the NBA that he is now considered a max player.
In other news, the Oklahoma City Thunder and head coach Scott Brooks have agreed to terms on a new four-year deal.
07/01/2012 8:25AM EST Steve Kyler:
More on Howard… now that Ric Bucher put it out there… I can chime in on what’s happened on the Howard front without burning trusted sources.
Apparently, Dwight Howard approached the Players Association trying to gauge what his options are with the Magic. In a conference call with the NBPA, Howard accused the Magic of lying and threatening him into signing his opt-in paperwork. Howard allegedly asked the union if he could take the Magic to court to get out of his final year with the team. The NBPA was said to have told him that there was nothing that he could do and that trying to circumvent the grievance processes defined in the CBA would cost Howard the final year of his deal worth $19 million.
Howard reportedly made his trade demand clear to new Magic GM Hennigan on Friday and made it clear he wants to be in Brooklyn.
The Magic, who were turning away suitors, appear to have changed their stance and sources close to the process expect Orlando to make a deal involving Howard at some point in the next few weeks.
Teams can consummate deals now, however no transactions can be completed until the NBA and the Players Association finalize the accounting on last season and lock in the terms for the new season.
07/01/2012 7:35AM EST Steve Kyler:
As expected, the Orlando Magic have opened talks with several teams about moving disgruntled center Dwight Howard. Sources warn that the team is simply exploring its options, but after declining talks regarding Howard for the last few weeks, the Magic seem to have arrived at the inevitable conclusion that moving Howard must be considered.
The Brooklyn Nets did not waste any time last night, reaching out to several free agents and several teams with large contract veterans – one of the players the Nets are pursuing is Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson. The Nets have little to offer but salary cap relief for Johnson, but word is there is at least a passing interest in a discussion and both sides were exchanging ideas. The Nets have also reached out to guard O.J. Mayo and view him as Plan B if Johnson cannot be obtained. The Nets also have had on again off again talks with Houston regarding Luis Scola, so Brooklyn is not sitting idle.
The Portland Trail Blazers wasted no time last night either. They are reported to have given Indiana Pacers free agent Roy Hibbert a maximum contract offer, setting Roy’s price tag at $14.5 million. Roy cannot sign the offer until July 10th, but if he does that puts the Pacers on a three-day clock to match the offer. The Blazers also met with Chicago Bulls restricted free agent Omer Asik last night, so they are hedging their Hibbert bets.
Look for more free agent news throughout the day.
07/01/2012 1:55AM EST Alex Kennedy:
The Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers were among the teams to contact unrestricted free agent Jamal Crawford after midnight, according to sources close to the situation.
07/01/2012 12:50AM EST Eric Pincus:
HOOPSWORLD is revamping the salary pages for all 30 teams, updating for the 2012-13 NBA season and beyond.
First up, the Brooklyn Nets with facts, figures, analysis and more…
07/01/2012 12:45AM EST Eric Pincus:
The Los Angeles Clippers have quickly made a maximum extension offer to both Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. HOOPSWORLD had earlier reported this would be the team’s intention.
The results were also predictable – has anyone turned away this kind of money in NBA history?
Griffin is expected to accept the offer, which is likely to be at $90-100 million range for five additional years. As such, Blake will be the team’s “Designated Player” and the only one eligible for such an extension.
The exact figure won’t be clear until the extension begins but both sides can agree on whatever the maximum salary is when the time comes.
In the case of Paul, if he waits one more year until he hits free agency, he’ll be able to ink a bigger/longer overall deal. While there’s no guarantee he stays with the Clippers, Paul has given every indication he hopes to be with the team long-term. It’s just too early to lock in the marriage, especially when the dowry will be more plentiful next summer.
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes that Griffin has already accepted, although that has yet to be confirmed.
06/30/2012 7:38PM EST Alex Kennedy:
Today’s NBA Saturday was full of free agency rumors. If you missed it, here are some of the latest rumblings from around the league:
Steve Nash is drawing interest from several teams, with the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks leading the charge. Toronto had the opportunity to trade the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft for Kyle Lowry, but held off because they wanted to pursue Nash and felt confident that they could land the Canadian star. The eight-time All-Star may also receive a large offer from Dallas. If the Mavericks lose the Deron Williams sweepstakes, they will turn their attention to Nash.
Jeremy Lin is a restricted free agent and the New York Knicks will almost certainly match any offer he receives. However, Lin still has to go through the process and sign an offer sheet with another team so that New York can match. The Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors could extend an offer sheet to Lin, according to sources close to the situation.
The Memphis Grizzlies chose not to extend a qualifying offer to O.J. Mayo on Friday, which means the 24-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent tonight. The Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers are among the teams expected to pursue Mayo, according to sources close to the situation.
Eric Gordon and Roy Hibbert likely aren’t going anywhere. The New Orleans Hornets are expected to match any offer that Gordon receives. The Indiana Pacers will do the same for Hibbert. Gordon and Hibbert may sign offer sheets with other teams, but it’s unlikely they put on a different jersey next season.
After opting out of the final year of his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, Jamal Crawford will test free agency for the second consecutive offseason. The Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns are among the teams expected to express interest in Crawford, according to sources close to the situation.
While it was originally believed that Brandon Roy would sign a relatively cheap contract, sources say Roy will likely receive several multi-year, multi-million dollar offers since teams view him as a low-risk, high-reward signing. Teams are confident that Roy can be a significant contributor and fan favorite after spending one year away from the game. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls are among the teams who are expressing interest in Roy, according to sources close to the situation.
Grant Hill may be ready to part ways with the Phoenix Suns and join an elite team. League sources believe that Hill will consider taking a pay cut to join a contender, with the Miami HEAT being mentioned as a strong possibility.
06/30/2012 7:20PM EST Steve Kyler:
SI.com’s Sam Amick is reporting that the New Orleans Hornets have opted to buyout and waive Rashard Lewis, allowing him to hit the free agent market. Lewis’ salary for next season was slated to be $22.69 million, however only $13.7 of that amount is guaranteed. The Hornets will carry that amount on their cap valuation for this season and save some $8 million in cash on the deal.
Lewis strongly believed he was going to be amnestied last year, but the Wizards kept him on the roster and traded him to the Hornets just prior to the draft.
Lewis confided to sources last year that the HEAT, Rockets, Lakers and Knicks would be desirable situations. It’s safe to assume those would be good starting points on predicting Lewis’ next team.
06/30/2012 4:30PM EST Bill Ingram:
The big question on everyone’s mind as we count down until the start of free agency is where Deron Williams will end up, especially NBA fans in Brooklyn and Dallas. Williams’ recent golf game with Jason Kidd only served to fuel the fire of speculation. The good news is that Williams is not going to waste time making the decision. According to Williams, who spoke with HOOPSWORLD just before the end of the season, he’s going to decide quickly, announce that decision and prepare for 2012-13.
06/30/12 12:45PM EST Steve Kyler:
Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson did exercise his option for free agency, however his goal is to re-sign with the team. Sources close to this process have maintained since the regular season ended that Nelson had doubts about staying in his contract for fear that the Magic would trade him and his final contract year to an undesirable situation. Nelson has made it known to the Magic that he’d like to stay and would work with them to make sure they can add around him in whatever deal is reached.
The Magic may also lose forward Earl Clark. Clark opted out of the final year of his deal and is looking for a situation where he can have a role and get minutes. Clark loved playing in Orlando, but would only consider a return if there were assurances he’d actually see the floor.
The Magic also have a decision to make on guard J.J. Redick. If Redick is waived before July 8th, the Magic owe him nothing, meaning his $6.19 million contract comes off the books.
If the Magic decline all of their options and rights, they can get roughly $7.2 million under the salary cap, but would have five rosters spots to fill including a starting point guard.
06/30/12 10:30AM EST Steve Kyler:
Yahoo’s Marc Spears is reporting that the Boston Celtics will re-sign forward Kevin Garnett to a new three-year $34 million contract on July 10th, when Free Agents are permitted to ink new deals.
The Philadelphia 76ers have been a team on the rise since Doug Collins took over as head coach, but the team had some serious questions to answer coming into this offseason. They had aggressive plans for improvement, but not much cap space to use in reaching their goal.
Early on, the subject of amnestying Elton Brand came up, and now the team is ready to go down that path. Brand’s $18 million expiring contract might have fetched some attractive pieces, but according to the Philadelphia Inquirer the team is on the verge of paying Brand to walk away.
On the building side, the Sixers have reached an agreement with Nick Young on a one-year, $6 million contract that will instantly improve the team’s outside shooting. It’s one of those moves that has repercussions elsewhere, as Young was one of the best free agent shooting guards available. Ray Allen will now be even more in demand, as will players like OJ Mayo and Courtney Lee, who have been players of interest to a number of teams over the last week.
The Sixers drafted a power forward in Mississippi State’s Arnett Moultrie, but will have to address the position in free agency now that Brand is gone.
Expect Brand to now become the subject of talks for championship teams who could potentially sign Brand to a minimum deal and significantly improve their supporting cast. The Celtics are looking for help up front, and teams like Dallas, Miami, New York and even the Lakers could potentially look to take advantage of Brand’s sudden, inexpensive availability.
Parker Gets Clearance
One of the great debates raging around the NBA is the issue of how much players are allowed to participate in international competition during the offseason, and few teams have had to address the issue as much as the San Antonio Spurs. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, in particular, are key parts of their international teams, and come Olympic time the competition gets pretty intense.
Despite the outcry from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban about NBA players participating and potentially getting injured while playing internationally, the Spurs have been supportive of their players’ desire to compete with their national teams, and in that tradition they have cleared Parker to play for France in the upcoming Olympics.
“I just arrived in Paris with good news,” Parker said via Twitter. “I’m going to the Olympics!!! I’m really happy I got the green light from Spurs!! Thank you Pop!! Now, towards London with beautiful glasses!!!”
While the approval of the Spurs was a foregone conclusion, the real concern for Parker was an eye injury he sustained during a bar fight in June. The glass that penetrated his eye was originally considered to be a threat to Parker’s playing career, but he has now been cleared to return to basketball.
“The two ophthalmologists (from the Spurs) confirmed the opinion of the French doctor who operated on Tony Parker, and the two Swiss specialists who also examined the player last Thursday, and indicated that he can resume playing,” read the statement from the French Basketball Federation.
It’s a good news, bad news thing for the Spurs. The good news is that Parker is back to 100%. The bad news is that there is always a chance that Parker could get injured while playing for France and derail San Antonio’s ever-narrowing championship hopes.
Derek Fisher in Demand
Point guards have been in the news a lot over the last couple of days, with Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Goran Dragic, Kyle Lowry and Jeremy Lin all determining their fates through trades or free agency. Today Derek Fisher joins the ranks of the rumored, as offers pour in from teams who would love to add a veteran floor leader with a reputation for clutch play and a championship leadership.
The Brooklyn Nets are said to be the frontrunners, and would love to have Fisher backing up Deron Williams on what is sure to be one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams next season. Just as Fisher helped provide steady guidance and clutch play for the Thunder last season, the Nets would like to see him help them enjoy the same kind of success next season.
The Nets are not alone, however. The Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Thunder are all said to be interested in the free agent point guard. The Thunder loved what he brought to the team, and the Bulls would like him to be a part of their solution to Derrick Rose’s extended injury. The Mavs are just looking for bodies to fill the roster at this point, and the Cavaliers would love to have Fisher mentor budding young point guard Kyrie Irving.
It may not come down to money for Fisher, who refused to report to the Houston Rockets last season after he was traded because he didn’t want to rebuild. The Thunder, Bulls and Nets would all offer Fisher an opportunity to get deep into the playoffs again, so they may be the frontrunners at this point.
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NBA Chats: There are three NBA chats today starting with Steve Kyler’s weekly NBA Rumors Chat at 10:30am EST. Senior NBA writer Joel Brigham will host his weekly NBA Chat at 1:30pm EST. Joel covers the Central Division for HOOPSWORLD. Mark Nugent will round out the day with his weekly NBA Chat at 6pm EST. You can always find the next chat here: Upcoming NBA Chats. If you are looking for a completed chat, check the Chat Archive.
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