Howard Will Only Re-Sign With One Team
Dwight Howard says that he will not re-sign with a team outside his preferred list of trade destinations, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The Magic star also denied using the term "blackmail" with regards to the Magic front office convincing him to waive his early termination option.
"There’s only one team on my list and if I don’t get traded there, I'll play the season out and explore my free agency after that," said Howard, who is reportedly seeking a trade to the Nets but would not name the team.
Knicks May Not Match Backloaded Lin Offer
If any clubs offer Jeremy Lin a backloaded contract that pays him an eight-figure salary in the third and fourth years, the Knicks may think twice about matching the offer, sources tell Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. With a more punitive luxury tax in the years ahead, paying Lin upwards of $10MM in 2014/15 and 2015/16 could prove to be extremely costly for the Knicks.
Odds & Ends: Duncan, Kaman, Miles, Korver
Tim Duncan is having good contractual talks with the Spurs about re-signing and it’s very unlikely that he will consider another team, sources told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Then again, it seems like Duncan never thought about leaving San Antonio to begin with. In the middle of the team’s postseason tear, the big man admitted to reporters that he had little interest in testing the open market. Here’s tonight’s look around the Association..
Latest On Steve Nash
8:42pm: Nash met with the Raptors and Knicks today while the Nets will make their pitch tomorrow morning, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Nets like Nash both as a potential Deron Williams replacement and teammate.
4:22pm: Nash is meeting with the Nets today, a league source tells Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
1:39pm: Nash tells ESPN.com's Marc Stein (Twitter link) that he's eager to talk to the Mavericks if their pursuit of Deron Williams falls through. However, Stein hears that the Knicks and Raptors are Nash's top two choices at the moment, in no particular order.
Atlantic Notes: Young, Teletovic, Allen, Gordon
Earlier this afternoon we learned that the Raptors have offered Steve Nash a three-year, $36MM deal. The aging point guard is also being courted by the division rival Nets, Knicks, as well as the Mavericks. Here's the latest out of the Atlantic..
Williams To Meet With Mavs Before Nets
The Mavericks will get the first face-to-face sitdown tomorrow afternoon with Deron Williams, sources familiar with Williams’ plans tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Nets will get their chance to talk to the point guard at night to recap the pitch that they have been pushing for weeks.
With Dirk Nowitzki traveling and owner Mark Cuban in Los Angeles working on his television show this week, sources say that Dallas will be represented by president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, coach Rick Carlisle, and former player Michael Finley. However, Dallas is really banking on Jason Kidd making a strong pitch for them as the two vacation in the Hamptons.
Raptors Offer Nash Three-Year, $36MM Deal
The Raptors have offered free agent point guard Steve Nash a three-year, $36 million contract, sources tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Industry sources monitoring the free-agent market have identified Toronto as one of the four teams with the best chance of signing him away from the Suns along with the Mavs, Knicks, and Nets.
Lakers Interested In Young, Rush
The Lakers are interested in Nick Young and Brandon Rush, Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times (via Twitter) has learned. As Bresnahan rightfully notes, Young is unlikely to sign for the Lakers' $3MM mini-mid-level exception but Rush could be a possibility.
The Warriors officially tendered a one-year qualifying offer to Rush on Tuesday. The soon-to-be 26-year-old could be tough to land as well, however, as Golden State GM Bob Myers has openly said that he wants to retain Rush.
Lakers, Nets, Rockets Talking Howard Trade
The Lakers and Magic have had preliminary contact about a possible deal for Dwight Howard, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The Nets and Rockets have also talked to Magic officials, sources said.
Nicolas Batum Has “Serious Offer” From T-Wolves
1:52pm: Minnesota seems to be Batum's preferred non-Portland destination, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, adding that the two sides have a "great shot" at reaching a verbal agreement. Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune wonders (via Twitter) if that agreement could happen today, since the T-Wolves are trying to get Batum into town for a visit.
7:42am: While the Trail Blazers were visiting restricted free agent Roy Hibbert and offering him a maximum deal, Portland's own RFA Nicolas Batum was being aggressively courted himself. According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, the Timberwolves contacted Batum and made a "serious offer" for the 23-year-old. Haynes reports that the T-Wolves' offer to Batum is in the four-year, $45-50MM range, and that the two sides will meet in Minnesota today to further discuss it.