Wizards Eyeing Webster, Jamison, Maynor
2:30pm: The Wizards view Webster as a "great locker-room voice" and are hoping to get him locked up quickly, says TNT's David Aldridge. According to Aldridge, Washington would probably use part, but not all, of its mid-level exception to bring back Webster (Twitter links).
12:58pm: While the Wizards have some interest in outside free agents, one of their own free agents remains the team's top priority. According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), the Wizards will make an offer today to try to bring back Martell Webster, who Spears and Michael Lee of the Washington Post (Twitter link) agree is the club's number one target.
Webster may be the Wizards' first priority, but he's not the only free agent they're eyeing. According to Spears (via Twitter), there's mutual interest between the club and Antawn Jamison, who spent five and a half seasons in Washington earlier in his career.
Meanwhile, Lee reports (via Twitter) that the Wiz have also reached out to Eric Maynor, as they search for a point guard to back up John Wall.
Spurs In Mix For Andrei Kirilenko
Having declined his player option for 2013/14, Andrei Kirilenko is on the open market, and at least one team besides the Wolves has Kirilenko in its sights, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Stein tweets that the Spurs are expected to be in the mix for the Russian forward.
San Antonio has the opportunity to clear a good chunk of cap space this summer, but it will depend on what the team decides to do with free agents Manu Ginobili, Tiago Splitter, and Gary Neal. Re-signing all three players at reasonable prices could ensure that the team doesn't have the room necessary to pursue Kirilenko. But if the club were to let Splitter walk, for instance, there may be room to make a player like Kirilenko a competitive offer.
Kirilenko turned down a $10MM+ salary from the Timberwolves to hit the open market, and in an interview with Russia's Sport Express (translated by HoopsHype), he explains that he's seeking the security of a long-term contract. The 32-year-old believes he has at least three productive seasons left in him, and indicated he's open to returning to Minnesota, though Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune doesn't believe the Wolves have much interest in a reunion (Twitter link).
Dwight Howard Rumors: Monday
The Rockets had what they felt was an "encouraging meeting" with Dwight Howard last night, and Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak was able to get in a quick word with the All-Star center as well. Houston and Los Angeles are among the teams expected to increase their pursuit of D12 in the coming days, so let's check out the latest rumblings on Howard:
- Although the Warriors appear willing to make the Lakers a competitive offer for Howard (story below), the two teams haven't engaged in sign-and-trade talks, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. According to Berger, for that to happen, Howard would have to indicate that the Warriors are his first choice, and even then, the Lakers may not be willing to engage. The team has "demonstrated no appetite" for a sign-and-trade so far, notes Berger (all Twitter links).
Earlier updates:
- The fact that Howard appears to be receptive to the extra efforts the Lakers are making to woo him suggest that he's still open to re-signing with the team, writes Sam Amick of USA Today.
- However, the Rockets have emerged as the frontrunner for Howard and the team's pitch last night did nothing to dampen D12's enthusiasm for Houston, says Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
- Wojnarowski, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, and Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle all have details on Howard's meeting with the Rockets contingent in Los Angeles.
- Although the Warriors are viewed as a long shot for Howard, Golden State is willing to offer Andrew Bogut and either Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade offer, reports Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group.
Thunder In Pursuit Of Dorell Wright
1:43pm: A source tells Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman that OKC's interest in Wright is "preliminary" and that the two sides haven't engaged in serious talks yet (Twitter link).
1:05pm: The Thunder have begun an aggressive pursuit of free agent swingman Dorell Wright, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Wright appears to represent a lower-cost option for Oklahoma City if the team is unable to retain its own free agent shooting guard, Kevin Martin.
Speaking of Martin, the Thunder have a phone conversation scheduled with the former King and Rocket for this afternoon, tweets ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Considering all the attention Martin has received so far today, it's looking increasingly as if the Thunder will be outbid for him, but the club would like to concoct a sign-and-trade, if possible, tweets Stein. Even that may be tricky though, given OKC's lack of cap flexibility.
Wright is coming off a $4.11MM salary with the Sixers, while Martin earned $12.44MM in his lone season with the Thunder.
Free Agent Notes: Bobcats, Nets, Blazers, Bucks
More free agent updates? More free agent updates! Let's round them up….
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer confirms a report that the Bobcats are going after Al Jefferson, but though the team is said to be a likely suitor for O.J. Mayo, he doesn't appear to be in their plans, at least for now.
- The Nets are interested in Shaun Livingston as a potential backup to Deron Williams, tweets Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports (via Twitter) that the Trail Blazers will speak to the reps for Matt Barnes and Francisco Garcia today or tomorrow.
- The Bucks are one of a half-dozen teams interested in Zaza Pachulia, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
- Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien and head coach Dave Joerger were meeting with free agent guard Tony Allen earlier today, according to Chris Herrington of the Memphis Flyer (via Twitter).
- Celtics GM Danny Ainge told A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (Twitter link) that his team hasn't been making calls to free agents today. No big surprise there, considering the rebuilding direction in which the C's are headed.
- Ainge did tell Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (Twitter link) that he made a courtesy call to Dwight Howard to see if there was any interest on Howard's end in a sign-and-trade to Boston, but the answer, of course, was no.
- With the exception of Chris Andersen, the Heat aren't entering free agency with their eye on any specific free agents, opines Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- Expect to see Garrett Temple back with the Wizards, says J. Michael of CSNWashington.com, tweeting that an agreement could come later this week.
C.J. Watson Closing In On Deal With Pacers
1:08pm: Watson appears to be headed for a two-year deal with the Pacers, tweets Kennedy, adding that it will likely be for more than the veteran's minimum.
12:29pm: Unrestricted free agent point guard C.J. Watson is closing in on an agreement with the Pacers, reports Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter). Watson hit the open market today after turning down a minimum-salary player option to return to the Nets.
The Pacers are in the market for a point guard to play behind George Hill, with backup D.J. Augustin and third-stringer Ben Hansbrough having hit free agency. After paying $3.5MM to Augustin last season, the Pacers could probably land Watson for less money, considering he's coming off a minimum-salary deal and was solid, but unspectacular backing up Deron Williams in Brooklyn.
Watson, 29, averaged 6.8 PPG with 2.0 APG and a 13.9 PER in 80 contests for the Nets in 2012/13.
Big Man Rumors: Bynum, Wright, Oden, Mullens
Earlier this afternoon, we passed along a few notes and rumors related to point guards. Now let's go a little bigger, with a focus on free agent centers….
- The Mavericks were one of several teams to contact Andrew Bynum shortly after free agency began last night, agent David Lee tells Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com. The Mavs, like all the teams chasing after Dwight Howard, are also in the market for Bynum as a fallback option, and the Trail Blazers and Cavaliers are reportedly pursuing the oft-injured center as well.
- Dallas would like to retain Brandan Wright, but the Hawks, Magic, Pistons, Raptors, and Knicks all expressed interest in the Jim Tanner client after free agency began last night, McMahon reports. Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link) also adds the Lakers to the list of potential suitors for Wright.
- The Heat, Spurs, Cavs, Celtics, Mavericks, Kings, Pacers, and Grizzlies all have interest in Greg Oden, but the former No. 1 overall pick is in no rush to make his decision on where to sign, writes Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. He's hoping to be physically ready to play by training camp.
- According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (via Twitter), it's unlikely that Oden lands with the Cavs.
- The Lakers have inquired on Byron Mullens, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Mullens became an unrestricted free agent when the Bobcats didn't tender him a qualifying offer.
- The Heat are in contact with Chris Andersen's camp in the hopes of working out a deal, tweets Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida.
Point Guard Rumors: Calderon, Telfair, Mavs
With free agent rumors coming in fast, we have enough updates on point guards alone to dedicate a whole post to the position. Here's the latest:
- Chris Broussard of ESPN.com hears the Pistons are intent on bringing back Jose Calderon (Twitter link), though an earlier report indicated that the team is unwilling to exceed a deal worth $7MM a year to re-sign him.
- Sebastian Telfair has drawn interest from the Knicks, Nets, Heat, and Thunder, sources tells Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (Twitter link).
- Finding a starting point guard remains a top priority for the Mavericks, who hope to have Shane Larkin and Gal Mekel compete for backup minutes, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com. Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News suggests keeping an eye on Greivis Vasquez, though he's more of a secondary option for the Mavs, since the Pelicans may not be inclined to trade him even with Jrue Holiday on board.
- The Jazz, who had plenty of free agents come off their roster last night, were no doubt busy, but they did reach out to Jamaal Tinsley, tweets Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune.
- Nemanja Nedovic, who says he's ready to come stateside next season if the Warriors want him, was "shocked" when Golden State drafted him. He had worked out for the Pistons, Cavaliers, Hawks, Knicks, and Bucks, but not the Warriors, prior to the draft (Twitter links via Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle and Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group).
- The Sixers didn't extend a qualifying offer to Charles Jenkins, making him an unrestricted free agent, notes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Kyler’s Latest: Iguodala, Dwight, Lee, Martin
HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler has a few free agent rumors in his NBA AM, so let's dive right in:
- The Nuggets are one of many teams pursuing Andre Iguodala, and they plan to offer him a deal close to the $14,968,250 he made last season in Denver.
- Dwight Howard's camp notes that most marquee free agents sign deals with some kind of player or early termination option, as Chris Paul is doing with the Clippers. Thus, the advantage the Lakers have of granting him a fifth year in a deal is virtually moot, save for the protection it would give Howard against a career-altering injury.
- Sources close to the Warriors are downplaying the team's reported interest in trading David Lee, though if Golden State wants to re-sign both Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry, they'll have to clear some money off their cap, Kyler writes.
- Kyler adds the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies to the list of teams pursuing Kevin Martin.
- Marcus Camby appears upset with his inclusion in the Andrea Bargnani trade, and Kyler hears the Raptors would be open to a buyout if they can't find someone willing to take on Camby in another trade.
Pacers Extend QO To Tyler Hansbrough
The Pacers have made Tyler Hansbrough a qualifying offer, The Associated Press reports. The one-year offer is worth $4,135,391 and allows the Pacers to match offers for the power forward in restricted free agency.
Indiana's primary offseason goal will be to re-sign David West, but once that's taken care of, the team will attend to other matters, like retaining Hansbrough, his backup. The Pacers enter the offseason with about $49MM in guaranteed salary, though they'll have Hansbrough's full Bird Rights if they wish to go over the cap to re-sign him.
Hansbrough, the 13th pick in the 2009 draft, was originally in line for a QO worth $4,225,423, but because he failed to meet the starter criteria, his offer is slightly smaller.