2012 July | Hoops Rumors

Thunder Retain Scott Brooks

By Chuck Myron | at July 2, 2012 8:23 pm

The Thunder and coach Scott Brooks have finalized a new four-year deal with coach Scott Brooks, the team announced. It's a four-year deal worth about $18MM, reports Royce Young of DailyThunder.com. The team will hold a press conference to announce the signing Tuesday.

0 comments Oklahoma City Thunder Scott Brooks

T-Wolves Rumors: Batum, Crawford, Gasol, Hill

By Luke Adams | at July 2, 2012 8:11 pm

The Timberwolves are off to an aggressive start in free agency, having reportedly made a "serious offer" to restricted free agent Nicolas Batum. According to Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld, sources believe the Trail Blazers' willingness to match a big offer for Batum will depend on whether they're able to land Roy Hibbert. Here are a few more updates on the T-Wolves' targets in free agency and trades:

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com updates an earlier story to say that Batum has narrowed his options to the Blazers, with whom he's meeting later this week, and the Wolves, and has postponed visits to other teams.

Earlier updates:

Bobcats Waive Jamario Moon

By Chuck Myron | at July 2, 2012 7:47 pm

The Bobcats have waived Jamario Moon, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). The athletic small forward played in eight games, averaging 2.3 points and 2.8 rebounds, after signing with the Bobcats in April. Moon had a non-guaranteed contract with the team for the minimum salary in 2012/13. Unless a team clears in off waivers in the next seven days, he'll become an unrestricted free agent.

1 comment Charlotte Hornets Transactions Jamario Moon

Warriors Dropping Out Of Dwight Howard Race

By Chuck Myron | at July 2, 2012 5:44 pm

We're following all of the day's Dwight Howard rumors right here, but the news out of Golden State is worthy of its own post. Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said today that he doesn't expect the team to go after Dwight Howard via trade, as Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com writes.

3 comments Golden State Warriors Orlando Magic Dwight Howard

Warriors, Bobcats Interested In J.J. Hickson

By Zachary Links | at July 2, 2012 5:37 pm

5:37pm: The Warriors are the frontrunners to sign Hickson, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld writes.

1:05pm: The Bobcats have also expressed interest in Hickson, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).

MONDAY, 12:14pm: A source tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (Sulia link) that it's "hard to envision" Hickson signing with anyone but the Warriors. Golden State tried to sign Hickson after he was waived by the Kings, and is making a serious push for him now, says Amico.

2 comments Charlotte Hornets Golden State Warriors J.J. Hickson

Nets, Hawks Discussing Joe Johnson Trade

By Chuck Myron | at July 2, 2012 4:04 pm

MONDAY, 4:04pm: Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star Ledger is hearing that a deal that would send Johnson to the Nets is "pretty much done," he says via Twitter.

SUNDAY,11:06pm: The Nets are now offering Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Williams, DeShawn Stevenson (via sign-and-trade) and a future first-round pick for Johnson, sources tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Sources say that the Nets are insisting that the trade includes at least one of their free agents via sign-and-trade – Stevenson or Gerald Green – in hopes of staying over the salary cap and keeping their MLE.

Stein adds that the Nets will only go ahead with the deal if it means keeping Deron Williams in Brooklyn.

The Nets would have to sign-and-trade Stevenson at a low number in order to make the numbers match up, tweets John Hollinger of ESPN.com.

9:45pm: The Nets are still trying to get a trade done for Johnson and hoping to get it resolved by mid-week, sources tell Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).

4:17pm: Atlanta has spoken with about 20 teams and is in at least a half dozen active discussions, a source tells Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).

3:47pm: The deal is in jeopardy as the Nets fear that they'll be surrendering too much financial flexibility in the trade as currently structured, according to Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN.com. Another major stumbling block is the Hawks' insistence on acquiring MarShon Brooks.

10:58am: The Nets and Hawks could reach a decision on a possible Johnson trade today, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski. If the two sides don't agree to a deal, Brooklyn figures to turn its attention to O.J. Mayo. Atlanta, meanwhile, is "much more focused" on moving Johnson than Josh Smith, tweets Wojnarowski.

SATURDAY, 8:34pm: The Nets and Hawks are in talks about a possible swap that would send Joe Johnson to Brooklyn, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Both sides are in talks on several fronts, and while no deal between the two teams is close, Atlanta and Brooklyn have "gone back and forth" on the possibility, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link).

Johnson has four years left on a massive six-year, $123.7MM contract, so any trade would have to involve a great deal of assets going to the Hawks in exchange. Since the Nets have only about $13.7MM in guaranteed contracts for next season, Brooklyn would have to engineer some sign-and-trades to make a swap for Johnson feasible. Deron Williams appears unlikely to be part of any Johnson deal, as Wojnarowski says the Nets' intent would be to pair Johnson in the backcourt with Williams, who's reportedly leaning toward re-signing with the team.

Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News says that no two NBA GMs are closer than Nets boss Billy King and new Hawks GM Danny Ferry, who played together in college at Duke. Bondy has wondered whether that relationship would lead to a trade, speculating it could involve Josh Smith instead (Twitter links). Zach Lowe of SI.com tweets that since the Nets currently have no one under a guaranteed contract for 2013/14, they could theoretically sign Williams, acquire Johnson and still have enough money left over for Dwight Howard, who's set to become a free agent next summer.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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19 comments Atlanta Hawks Brooklyn Nets Anthony Morrow DeShawn Stevenson Gerald Green Joe Johnson Johan Petro Jordan Farmar Jordan Williams Josh Smith O.J. Mayo

Lakers, Others Eyeing Grant Hill

By Luke Adams | at July 2, 2012 3:42 pm

Back in March, Grant Hill told Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida that he hopes to keep playing in the NBA until he "can't go or it's not fun anymore." Hill doesn't seem to be contemplating retirement this summer, so he must still be having fun. He also recently underwent the platelet-enrichment procedure that Kobe Bryant popularized among NBA players, according to Ric Bucher of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Bucher adds that the Lakers, Suns, Raptors, and Knicks are among the teams with interest in signing the veteran forward.

2 comments Los Angeles Lakers New York Knicks Phoenix Suns Toronto Raptors Grant Hill

Cavaliers Waive Manny Harris

By Luke Adams | at July 2, 2012 2:56 pm

The Cavaliers have waived Manny Harris, the team announced today in a press release. Harris had a non-guaranteed contract for the coming season, so the Cavs won't be on the hook for any of his 2012/13 salary.

0 comments Cleveland Cavaliers Transactions Manny Harris

Lakers Re-Sign Darius Morris To Qualifying Offer

By Luke Adams | at July 2, 2012 2:21 pm

The Lakers have re-signed Darius Morris to his qualifying offer, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). The deal will pay him about $962K for 2012/13. Because Morris accepted the one-year offer, he'll be a free agent again next summer.

15 comments Los Angeles Lakers Transactions Darius Morris

Jrue Holiday Seeking Max Extension

By Luke Adams | at July 2, 2012 12:08 pm

Jrue Holiday is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which means he's eligible for a long-term extension with the 76ers this offseason. And according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), the point guard is indeed seeking an extension — for the maximum salary.

14 comments Philadelphia 76ers Jrue Holiday

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Month: July 2012