RUMOR HAS IT…

Today's section is geared exclusively towards the latest rumors floating around the NBA …

Dallas Entering the Fray?  The Dallas Mavericks acted quickly this summer, signing a number of free agents including DeSagana Diop, Antoine Wright, Jose Barea, Keith McLeod, Gerald Green and James Singleton.  Not all of the deals are guaranteed but the Mavericks already have a 14-man roster.

Always looking to improve, Dallas has reportedly throwing their hat into the Ron Artest chase.  According to HOOPSWORLD's Bill Ingram and verified by Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee, the Mavericks are apparently offering Brandon Bass and the expiring contract of Jerry Stackhouse for Artest.

The Sacramento Kings are in a difficult position in that they don't want to have a disgruntled Artest in training camp - but the more he publicly demands a trade, the more challenging it could be for the Kings to get fair value.

Bass is a promising young big man (in a 6'8" body) but far from an All-Star.  At the deadline the Denver Nuggets considered sending Linas Kleiza but never pulled the trigger on a deal.

Artest's market value appears to be that of an unproven but talented player with positive upside.

The Kings would probably like Josh Howard from Dallas but as the Los Angeles Lakers are reluctant to part with Lamar Odom, Artest's "difficult" personality will probably prevent Sacramento from landing such well established players.

Bass may garner interest elsewhere if the Mavs truly want to move him, but the Kings aren't the slightest bit interested in acquiring him for Artest.

Lakers and Artest, etc: Amick acknowledges in his blog that he has been told that the Lakers have not offered Odom - which echoes what has been written in this column.  Amick does repeat that Odom is available - and while to a certain extent that's true - LA is in no rush to trade him.

For one, until Andrew Bynum has proven that he's 100% healthy, the Lakers don't like the idea of giving up their primary backup power forward.  Last season Pau Gasol held down the center position the best he could (before being exposed as truly a four in the NBA Finals).  Odom is unproven as a three alongside Bynum and Gasol - and while he doesn't necessarily have a strong jump shot, the Lakers would like to see how well such a long front court tandem plays together before giving up on it prematurely.

While Odom's scoring can be inconsistent, it can be difficult to find a player who is still able to contribute without the ball.

One source unaffiliated with the Lakers directly notes, "Odom is a relatively happy facilitator but with Bynum returning, anybody coming in becomes the fourth option.  Will Artest embrace that role?  Odom will - and [additionally] will help facilitate the offense with the second team.  Odom is really an incredible player . . . undervalued by the fans."

While Phil Jackson is intrigued (according to sources close to the Laker coach) at the thought of what Artest could add defensively to the team, both he and the Laker decision makers hold Odom in high regard.

Equally, they're not married to him and in an overwhelming deal would consider a move.  The same sources say trading Odom for Artest (let alone bringing in the unfavorable Kenny Thomas contract) is simply not going to happen.

As Amick suggests, the Lakers might need to "engage a third team in the deal."  While multi-team trades are extremely rare, the Lakers would need to get a lot more than the unpredictable Artest if they're to give up Odom.

One player who the Lakers sought out when the Chicago Bulls had called for Kobe Bryant last summer was point guard Kirk Hinrich (LA also wanted Luol Deng and a number of other considerations).  Hinrich has been linked by a number of sources this summer to the Lakers - but again LA isn't willing to part with Odom without getting significant value in return.

Chicago has been interested in Odom for a number of years.  In the Eastern Conference, Odom would be one of the better power forwards.  The Bulls apparently would love to add an unselfish post player who can rebound and pass like Odom.

If the Bulls and Lakers could come up with enough young prospects to appease the Kings - more than perhaps Linas Kleiza or Brandon Bass - maybe a three-team deal could come together.

Obviously it's a long shot but the Lakers might consider giving up Jordan Farmar and Chris Mihm with Odom if they could land both Ron Artest and Kirk Hinrich.  If Chicago were willing to give up perhaps Tyrus Thomas to the Kings, would Sacramento be willing to make a deal if they also get Farmar and Mihm? 

The Lakers could still spare a small forward but only Trevor Ariza has a short contract.  Luke Walton (coming off ankle surgery) and Vladimir Radmanovic are less appealing with their long term deals.

It sounds a little too fantastic to be true, especially for the Lakers.  Then again, General Manager Mitch Kupchak raised the bar with his last trade (Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown and pieces).

From the Kings perspective, they're not going to be competing for at title for at least a couple of years or so.  Sending Artest to the Lakers could be considered an act of sabotage.  With Hinrich's long term deal (albeit decreasing each year) and an extension/new contract for Artest (not to mention a hefty one for Bynum) - the Lakers could find themselves with one of the most expensive payrolls in the league.

The Bulls haven't given up on Thomas but word is they're open to the possibility of moving him for a more seasoned player in the post.  Hinrich is expendable simply because of his cost with the arrival of top pick Derrick Rose.

It's arguably feasible but it's hard enough to get a simple deal done - let alone a monster transaction between three teams with two in the same division.

Then again, if the Bulls were willing to give up both Hinrich and Thomas - maybe the Lakers should forget about Artest.  How difficult would it be to work a long term extension with him anyway?  Don't the Lakers, even without Odom theoretically, have enough small forwards?  Arguably, Kobe Bryant is a more effective scorer at the three than in the backcourt.

It appears the Kings will seriously look to move Artest before training camp.  At this point the list of suitors is short.  In addition to the Mavericks and Lakers, the Miami HEAT were reported to have interest although an NBA source downplays the notion that Miami moves Shawn Marion.  They too have no interest in Kenny Thomas and value the opportunity to have cap space next summer.

Knowing Artest and his tendency to speak his mind (and crave attention), the Artest saga could dominate the Rumor Mill for the coming weeks and months.

Cap Room Gone?  Considering the Memphis Grizzlies do not appear willing to use their spending power this summer to sign a player to a significant contract, the league is just about out of cap room.  That won't be completely accurate until the Los Angeles Lakers make their decision on Ronny Turiaf.  Should they match the Golden State offer sheet, the Warriors would once again have significant room to pursue another restricted free agent.

While the Lakers would like to keep Turiaf, it doesn't look like it's realistic economically.  LA is over the luxury tax limit and Warriors have front-loaded the contract so that Turiaf stands to earn $4.5 million in the first season of the four-year $17 million offer.

The Los Angeles Clippers might have a couple of million ($2.3 - $5.7, depending on who they additionally renounce) left to spend but all the big name restricted free agents are essentially out of luck.  Now they'll have to negotiate with their respective teams in earnest. 

In recent years (and specifically with the nation's current economic climate), teams tend to be hesitant to give out gigantic contracts to restricted free agents unless compelled by competition.  With no cap space to go around, there really aren't any other teams who can drive up the price.  Unless both sides are able to reach a reasonable deal (like Daniel Gibson with the Cleveland Cavaliers), restricted free agency can be a long, protracted battle,

In addition, it's difficult to fashion sign and trades with restricted free agents because of the base year compensation rule (BYC) that goes into effect when a player gets a raise of 20% or more.  BYC makes it difficult for teams to match salaries properly in two-team trades.

The risk that the franchises faces in what could be perceived as a lowball offer - it could drive the player to accept the one-year tender and vow to leave the following year via unrestricted free agency.  Like any newly signed free agent contract, after accepting the offer, the player can't be traded until at least December 15th.  One more caveat with a one-year tender - the player possesses trade veto power until the next free agent period begins anew the following July.

Conversely the player is taking a hit with a relatively small contract instead of accepting multiple years, often at a much higher dollar.  Promising to leave the following season can be an empty gesture since so few teams have cap space each summer.  Next year could be particularly barren - especially with so many franchises looking to wait until the summer of 2010 when player like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Amare Stoudemire can become unrestricted free agents.

Once that money is gone, the player could end up in a similarly low leverage position - begging for a sign and trade at the threat of signing a full Mid-Level Exception (MLE) deal at about $32-$35 million.  If this summer's debate is over $45-55 million - the prospect of having to settle for far less the next year further weakens the player's position.

Then again, teams do want to come to a reasonable deal that avoids such drama.  In general, they're not going to compete with themselves and overbid - but if they truly value the player, a compromise can and should be reached. 

Last year Anderson Varejao of the Cavaliers held out until December when he finally received an offer sheet from the Charlotte Bobcats (Cleveland matched).  It's still hard to say that relationship has healed and Varejao's name has recently been mentioned in quite a few trade rumors.

Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats are probably two of the higher profile players who will get big offers but their team's don't want to overextend themselves.

Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors may have less trouble negotiating considering how key he is to the team's future - especially with Baron Davis' defection to the Clippers.  Equally Andre Iguodala is expected to find a compromise in Philadelphia.

A more complex situation is that of Ben Gordon who ultimately isn't an absolute need in Chicago.  The Bulls already have a significant investment in Kirk Hinrich along with rookie Derrick Rose, Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha.  He could end up having to settle for the one-year tender at $5.9 million. 

The most Gordon could get in the first year of a sign and trade before BYC kicks in would be $7.7 million.  Spread out over six years that could be a lucrative $58.2 million contract but is anyone willing to pay that this summer to a scoring guard (albeit a potent one) in a point guard's body?

Other players like Sasha Vujacic of the Los Angeles Lakers and JR Smith of the Denver Nuggets now have a clear market value based on the $25 million four-year deal signed by James Posey (New Orleans Hornets) and the $20.8 million over five years signed by Gibson (Cavaliers).

Not Much Left Unrestricted:  Most of the choice free agents this summer are restricted.  After James Posey signed with New Orleans, the pickings have significantly slimmed.

The best big men left are Kurt Thomas, Kwame Brown, Dikembe Mutombo, Theo Ratliff and Alonzo Mourning. 

The top guard/forwards remaining are probably Ricky Davis, Jannero Pargo, Quinton Ross, Jason Williams, Bonzi Wells, Keyon Dooling, Mo Evans and Carlos Arroyo.

Certainly a few of those names could be difference-makers - but none should expect as much as the MLE.