Nets Sign Gerald Green To 10-Day Contract
Gerald Green has officially signed a 10-day contract, the team announced (Twitter link). He'll take the roster spot that was vacated when Andre Emmett's 10-day deal expired.
Green had been a member of the D-League's Los Angeles D-Fenders, and was the MVP of this weekend's D-League All-Star game. He has averaged 19.1 points in 22 games on the season.
The 26-year-old Green last appeared in the NBA in 2009 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks when he averaged 5.2 points in about 10 minutes per game. The Nets will be his fifth NBA franchise, as the forward also had stops in Boston, Houston and Minnesota.
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio first reported (via Twitter) that Green would sign with the Nets.
Magic To Pursue Steve Nash?
The rumors continue to pour out of Orlando, though with the Dwight Howard sweepstakes and the All-Star game coinciding, it's hardly surprising. The Magic have already denied that they were nearing a three team trade involving the Lakers and Raptors.
Now, RealGM's Jarrod Rudolph tweets that multiple sources have told him that Otis Smith will "aggressively pursue" Steve Nash at the trade deadline, presumably in an attempt to keep Howard by showing that they are serious about adding talent around him. While it's an interesting idea for Orlando, giving up assets for a Nash rental seems pretty risky considering Nash and Howard could both walk at season's end.
Nash, an unrestricted free agent after the season, already indicated that he would be open to a trade. Paul Coro from The Arizona Republic tweets that the Suns stance to keep him remains.
Odds & Ends: Thomas, Jones, Miles, Howard
With the All-Star Game about to kick off in Orlando, here are some other things going on around the league:
- After signing Lance Thomas to a couple of 10-day contracts, league sources have confirmed that the New Orleans Hornets will now sign the forward for the remainder of the season, according to John Reid at the Times Picayune.
- Reid also indicates that the Hornets will offer big man Solomon Jones his second 10-day contract this year. Both of these moves will be announced later this week.
- Utah Jazz forward C.J. Miles discussed his upcoming free agent status with Brian Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune. Miles indicates that while he will explore his options, he is definitely open to re-signing with the Jazz.
- Smith also talked to Jazz forward Josh Howard, who like Miles, will also consider re-signing with Utah.
Cavs Notes: LeBron, Varejao, Jamison
With LeBron James stirring up a hornet's nest with his surprising comments about potentially wanting to return to play for the Cavaliers, let us take a look at some other recent news in Cleveland:
- The announcement that Anderson Varejao will officially miss 4 to 6 weeks while he recovers from a broken wrist likely ends any lingering trade talk involving the Cleveland center. With Varejao out for at least a month the Cavs are unlikely to make a run at the 8-seed in East, and may be more likely to be active at the trade deadline.
- Luke Adams examined Antawn Jamison as a trade candidate yesterday, concluding they won't get an offer more valuable than having Jamison's $15MM come off the books in the offseason. John Hollinger agreed in an ESPN.com chat today, saying that a post-deadline buyout is looking more and more likely.
Seattle Officially Announces Proposal For Arena
According to an Associated Press report, Seattle native Christopher Hansen is making a $290MM proposal for a new sports arena in an effort to lure an NBA (and NHL) team to Seattle. As we outlined earlier, Hansen's announcement was expected, but it became official on Thursday evening.
The pitch apparently includes $290MM in private investment in addition to the cost to acquire an NBA franchise — both of which would combine to construct the new arena estimated at $450MM to $500MM in cost.
The deal hinges on Hansen's group finding an NBA franchise willing to move to Seattle and sign a 30-year no-relocation clause. The inability to build a new arena was the root cause for the SuperSonic franchise relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008. The proposal will now go to a review board with a ruling expected within a month.
Trail Blazers' owner Paul Allen, who voted against letting the Sonics leave town, released a statement in support of the progression of Hansen's proposal to bring a team back to Seattle. Allen lives in Seattle and also owns the Seahawks of the NFL.
Pau Gasol Addresses Swirling Rumors
Earlier today, we heard that the Timberwolves are putting together a package for Pau Gasol. According to Brian Kamenetzky from ESPN Los Angeles, the Lakers big man recently addressed his future in Los Angeles:
"There's talks and rumors every day. Today I was reading it was Minnesota is really interested in trying to put a good package together," Gasol said. "[Other teams are] calling, and it seems like things are just waiting for the right offer to come along, for [the Lakers] to pull the trigger."
Gasol goes on to say that he wants to stay in Los Angeles to try to win another title, but knows it's not up to him. Gasol also indicated that it hasn't been easy to ignore all the trade talk.
In addition to Minnesota, we have heard the Rockets are still interested in Gasol despite David Stern vetoing their first attempt to land the 31-year-old. The Celtics may also have kicked the tires on a Gasol deal.
Berger On Howard, Williams, Chandler, Nash, GMs
Ken Berger of CBSSports weighed in on the Dwight Howard situation, Deron Williams and several other hot NBA topics. Here is a quick summary of his updates:
- Dwight Howard would already be on his way out of Orlando if he was able to make a decision on a destination, according to a person close to the situation. Rival executives believe that after the All-Star game in Orlando, the Magic will be forced to move him.
- Berger says that despite reports to the contrary, the Lakers are indeed one of Howard's finalists, along with the Mavericks and Nets. The Lakers would prefer to move Pau Gasol in a deal over newly named All-Star starter Andrew Bynum.
- While the Nets are encouraged by Deron Williams' outlook on the team, the team knows that it must complete a Dwight Howard-sized deal to resign the point guard.
- Despite league-wide concern over how the Kenyon Martin situation shook out in China, the Nuggets remain committed to signing Wilson Chandler.
- Steve Nash has not requested a trade, but if he should, the Suns would do all they can to accommodate his request.
- On top of the Lakers interest in Ramon Sessions, the team has also discussed the possibility of adding Gilbert Arenas.
- Berger suggests the following front office members have uncertain futures: Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld, Pistons team president Joe Dumars, Kings team president Geoff Petrie, Raptors team president Bryan Colangelo
Lakers Hesitant On Sessions
The Lakers are one of many teams interested in trade candidate Ramon Sessions. According to Marc Stein, the Cavaliers would be looking for at least one of the Lakers two first-round picks in 2012.
Stein says Los Angeles is balking at including either of their first-rounders, or their $8.9MM trade exception, until they have a clearer understanding of Dwight Howard's situation in Orlando. The Lakers interest in Howard is well documented, and they clearly don't want to jeopardize any of their trade assets in a deal for Sessions if there is a chance they can land Howard.
The Lakers received one of their 2012 first-round picks and the $8.9MM trade exception when they dealt Lamar Odom to Dallas in the offseason.
Wizards Working To Move Blatche
The Wizards are actively looking to move power forward Andray Blatche, according to Marc Stein in his Weekend Dime. Washington has attempted to initiate a Blatche for Tyrus Thomas swap with the Bobcats. Stein adds that ideally, the Wizards would get Boris Diaw and his expiring deal in return, but Charlotte is unlikely to take on Blatche's salary without sending Thomas and his similar sized deal to Washington.
After averaging 16.8 PPG and 8.3 RPG in 2011, Blatche has been a disappointment in 2012, averaging only 10.3 PPG and 7.1 RPG while shooting a paltry 38% from the field. Blatche has three years, and nearly $23MM remaining on a contact extension he signed in September of 2010.