76ers and Miller Not Close: The Philadelphia 76ers may lose Andre Miller. Word is that the 76ers are reluctant to tie themselves to a deal with large guarantees to Miller for more than two-years. A three- or four-year deal is possible, it would simply have to have Sixer favorable exits if Miller begins to break down and Miller's camp is not open to that. Portland GM Kevin Pritchard denied that his team was pondering a sign and trade scenario involving Miller as his team focuses on wining and dining Hedo Turkoglu in Portland today. Miller's camp is seeking a multi-year deal at or around the $10 million per season Andre earned last year. The Sixers are playing this situation tough as they don't want to be holding the bag when Miller starts to decline.

Lakers Won't Pay Ariza: Word is the L.A. Lakers will not go higher than the median exception for Trevor Ariza and that has not sat well with Ariza who will start entertaining other offers. Ariza is said to be the fall back option for the Trail Blazers, but the Cavaliers and Magic have expressed interest in Trevor. The word is if the Lakers do not increase their offer Trevor will go elsewhere for the median money rather than stay in L.A. which flies in the face of Trevor and his agents' recent comments about bleeding "purple and gold".

"All we're looking for is little appreciation for what Trevor has done," Ariza's agent David Lee said to the L.A. Times. "I don't think they believe Trevor is serious about leaving, and that's too bad. I didn't think we'd be in this situation. I am disappointed and surprised by what I thought would be some feelings for the people who have given you everything they've got."

The Lakers seem more committed to retaining Lamar Odom, who has gotten sniffs from the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs – although both teams would need a sign-and-trade through the Lakers to make a deal with Odom happen. Ariza's camp was seeking a $7 to $8 million offer from the Lakers and did not get it, while Lamar Odom is looking for a deal in the $10 million range and may get closer to it with the Lakers than Ariza.

David Lee And Toronto? The Memphis Grizzlies were rumored to be interested in David Lee, however it seems ownership nixed the deal, and then made the trade for Zach Randolph, now David is talking to other teams. Sources close to the situation say Toronto and Portland have interest in Lee who is viewed as the fall back option. The Knicks opened free agency with a four-year, $32 million offer which is looking pretty good today.

Utah's Paul Millsap is considered the top power forward option and may get a sizable offer from the Oklahoma City Thunder, the problem with an offer to Millsap is his restricted free agent status, which ties up OKC's money for a week taking them out of the market while Utah decides to match the deal, which is a risk for the Thunder. The belief is if OKC's offer to Millsap gets matched David Lee could be a fall back option for the Thunder as well, although not at nearly the price. The Thunder have roughly $11 million in cap space are expected to tender an offer to Millsap in the $8 to $9 million per season range, and force the Jazz who are already over the Luxury tax to match it.

Lee could see an offer in the $7 to $8 million per season range from Oklahoma City if Utah matches Millsap, but such an offer is on pace with the Knicks' offer, and Lee too is a restricted free agent and New York likely would match it.

Campaigning For Artest?: Twitter is not always your friend. A post supposedly from Ron Artest saying - "THANKS A LOT HOUSTON :) I HAD A LOT OF FUN." did not come from Artest according to his agent, David Bauman. Bauman is sticking to his line that Houston is Artest's first option – likely because they can pay him more but word is filtering out that both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have actively campaigned for Artest to join their respective teams. Artest seems to be giving serious consideration to a Laker or Cavalier offer, which would be a Median Contract in the $5 million per season range.

"All the superstars are very savvy and great recruiters," Bauman said to the Associated Press. "The superstars are sometimes even better recruiters than the general managers or their staffs. Between Kobe and Ron or LeBron and Ron, there are always conversations that occur. I think I'll just leave it at that at this point."

"Obviously, we'd love to do a deal with the Rockets," Bauman said. "At this point, I think it's premature. We really have to figure out what all the options are and what's the best place for Ron, both financially and from a playing perspective."

Shopping Chandler: The New Orleans Hornets are expected to be active in the coming weeks as they try and re-tool some of their roster. Word is Tyson Chandler, Devin Brown and even Morris Peterson could be on their way out of New Orleans and Dallas big man Brandon Bass could be their big free agent signing. He was in New Orleans yesterday and may have received an offer at or near the full median exception worth $5.6 million per season.

The Mavericks have said they would likely match any contract offer, only if Brandon wanted to remain a Maverick. The Hornets have a payroll among the highest in the NBA and are looking to create some breathing room and are reportedly engaged in talks to move several players.

No Love For Marion? The Toronto Raptors have been making news with their interest in Denver's Linas Kleiza and New York's David Lee – they struck out on Charlie Villanueva, but are expected to meet with Hedo Turkoglu and Lakers free agent Trevor Ariza. The one name that's not getting any play is Shawn Marion, although league sources say that's not due to lack of interest.

Because Marion is Toronto's free agent he can be re-signed using his so-called "bird rights" and because Marion is expected to sign a deal far less than the $17.8 he was paid last year he may be the last transaction completed by the Raptors. Sources close to the situation say both sides have exchange initial ideas and that things are progressing, but that the timing of events is necessary to create the cap space to add of players.

"The thing with Nate and I is we respect players - we both played - and we are always willing to talk,'' Pritchard said. "So if there really is an issue, we want him to know that we are open to talk about it."

McMillan said he spoke with Fernandez after the draft and explained some of the thinking behind the players they chose and the deals they made which included sending out Rudy's close friend Sergio Rodriquez to the Sacramento Kings.

"He's been fine,'' McMillan said. "It was just two days ago. He didn't say anything then, and he didn't say anything in our exit meetings."

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The Pistons still have some dollars left under the salary cap (roughly $3 million) and have again reached out to Antonio McDyess. The belief is McDyess - who is drawing attention from Orlando, Washington, Houston, Cleveland, San Antonio and Boston - will strongly consider returning to Detroit.