Nets Re-Sign Andray Blatche
JULY 11TH, 11:32am: The Nets have officially re-signed Blatche, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 2ND, 8:20pm: Blatche's deal includes a player option for 2014/15 worth $1.43MM, tweets Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
JULY 1ST, 8:51pm: Andray Blatche has agreed to re-sign with the Nets, according to the New York Times' Howard Beck. The deal is only for one-year at $1.4MM, a relative surprise given Blatche's consistent bench contribution with the team last season.
The timing and price are both curious, especially when factoring in Blatche had other suitors. As reported by ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Warriors and Clippers both had their eye on his services.
Money may not have been a factor, though, as Blatche is still being compensated by the Wizards after they used their amnesty clause on him last year. He averaged 10.3 PPG in just 19 MPG, appearing in all 82 of Brooklyn's regular season games last season.
Heat Re-Sign Chris Andersen
2:24pm: The Heat have officially confirmed the signing in a press release.
10:40am: Andersen will receive the maximum allowable raise via the Non-Bird exception, according to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida. That means a first-year salary of $1.68MM (120% of the minimum), and a second-year player option worth about $1.75MM. The overall value of Andersen’s deal will be $3,434,389, by my math.
WEDNESDAY, 10:24am: Andersen’s deal will actually be for two years, with a second-year player option, according to Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter).
TUESDAY, 7:18pm: Free agent center Chris Andersen will re-sign with the Heat, according to Yahoo! NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski. It’s a one-year deal for the 35-year-old center, who joined Miami last season and was a major factor in their playoff run to a second straight championship.
An 11-year veteran, Andersen averaged 4.9PPG and 4.1RPG during the regular season with Miami last year, providing energy off the bench and a solid presence on the glass. In the playoffs he made 80.7% of his 57 shot attempts, which led all players.
Pacific Notes: Nash, Jamison, Clippers
A few notes from around the Pacific Division.
- Steve Nash told ESPN 710 radio that he believes the Lakers had no chance in convincing Dwight Howard to re-sign in Los Angeles.
- ESPNLA.com's Ramona Shelburne tweets that free agent forward Antawn Jamison will delay his decision on signing with the Clippers until later in the week.
- The Clippers have officially renounced the rights to Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom, but are still interested in signing Odom, according to a tweet from Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner.
Atlantic Notes: Rondo, Raptors, Celtics
A few notes from around the NBA's Atlantic Division.
- According to a tweet from Hoopsworld.com's Bill Ingram, a rumor has bubbled to the surface that the Rockets are interested in trading for Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, but Dwight Howard has no interest in playing with the four-time All-Star.
- The Raptors have officially announced they will be making Nick Nurse an assistant head coach on Dwane Casey's staff, according to the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat. Nurse will run the team's offense.
- The Celtics are in talks to sign Brazilian big man Vitor Faverani, according to TuBasket.com. The Boston Herald's Mark Murphy reported Boston's interest this morning, but made it clear an expensive buyout with Faverani's team in Brazil could sour things.
League Announces New Salary Cap
The league has announced a new salary cap of $58.679MM, according to several NBA reporters, including the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn. The luxury tax will be $71.748MM.
Both figures are up from last season, when the salary cap was $58.044MM and the luxury tax was $70.307MM. Larry Coon of ESPN.com's twitter timeline is full of new information with regards to how the tax and cap affect exceptions and maximum and minimum salaries.
More information has been provided by ESPN.com.
Odds & Ends: Stiemsma, Brewer, Bucks
A few random notes from around the league on this busy Tuesday evening.
- After having his rights renounced by the Timberwolves, free agent center Greg Stiemsma has found interested suitors in about 12 teams around the league, according to a tweet by USAToday's Sam Amick. The Pelicans are one of those teams.
- The Timberwolves are pursuing Corey Brewer and are trying to trade Luke Ridnour to make signing him possible, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
- According to Gery Woelfel of JournalTimes.com, there's growing chatter that the Bucks are aggressively pursuing Hawks restricted agent point guard Jeff Teague, and would let Brandon Jennings walk if they can get him.
- Woelfel is also reporting that the Bucks are interested in Gary Neal.
Western Notes: Rockets, Speights, Jack
A few notes from around the NBA's Western Conference
- As we noted earlier, the Warriors plan on signing free agent forward Marreese Speights to bolster their suddenly thin front line (trying to recover from the loss of Carl Landry and a serious injury to Festus Ezeli). According to the Bay Area News Group's Marcus Thompson, Speights' deal could be for three-years and $9MM, but he isn't yet positive those numbers are accurate. ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst reports on that front that both Speights and former Warriors guard Jarrett Jack will sign outright with Golden State and the Cavaliers, respectively.
- The Rockets were fined $150K by the NBA for making public comments about Dwight Howard signing with the team before the league's moratorium has lifted, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
- According to NewsOk.com's Darnell Mayberry, Thunder center Kendrick Perkins had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday morning. He will be off his feet for at least two weeks, which has a slight chance in factoring into whether the team chooses to amnesty him at some point soon.
Poll: Who Is The Best Free Agent Still Available?
With free agency kicking off today, news and rumors around the NBA have been flowing nonstop. A few big names are already off the market, including Chris Paul, but most are still available. After Dwight Howard, who is unquestionably the most sought-after player left, which player is best?
Western Notes: Mavericks, Pachulia, Lucas III
A few bits of news scattered throughout the Western Conference:
- The Spurs are reportedly targeting John Lucas III in free agency, according to a tweet from ShamSports.com's Mark Deeks.
- The Oregonian's Joe Freeman is reporting that there's a mutual interest between the Trail Blazers and free agent center Zaza Pachulia. However, the talks are only in preliminary stages.
- Eddie Sefko from the Dallas Morning News reports that the Mavericks had discussions with several big-name free agents today, including Andre Iguodala, Andrew Bynum, and Monta Ellis.
- Tyreke Evans met with the Kings on Monday, according to USA Today's Sam Amick. It still isn't clear on whether the team would match a lucrative four-year offer sheet by the Pelicans, or whether Evans will even sign that offer sheet.
Northwest Notes: Timberwolves, Watson, Jazz
A few notes from around the Northwest Division:
- Earl Watson is currently in discussions with several teams, according to a tweet from the Deseret News' Jody Genessy. The free agent point guard spent last season with the Jazz.
- Also according to Genessy, the Jazz have spoken to Mo Williams and DeMarre Carroll, as have other teams.
- The Salt Lake Tribune's Bill Oram reiterates Genessy's report that the Jazz and Carroll have been in heavy discussion, but nothing is imminent.
- Also according to Oram, the Jazz are said to be very interesting in re-signing forward Paul Millsap, but no deal has been offered yet.
- According to a tweet from 1500 ESPN's Darren Wolfson, the Timberwolves have reached out to Alan Anderson.
- The Timberwolves also have four-year offers out to J.J. Redick and Chase Budinger, according to a tweet from Yahoo! NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski.