Southeast Rumors: Monroe, Sefolosha, Wizards
Restricted free agent Greg Monroe and unrestricted free agent Thabo Sefolosha are at the Wizards‘ Verizon Center, tweets Gene Wang of the Washington Post. No offer was made to Sefolosha during the visit and there isn’t much for the Wizards to offer, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo (on Twitter). More out of the Southeast..
- The Heat inquired on Sefolosha today, league sources tell Shams Charania of RealGM (on Twitter), but they’re predictably far from concrete offers.
- The Wizards and Gortat were haggling over the number of years in his deal, and Washington’s willingness to include the fifth season convinced the big man to agree to re-sign, as Michael Lee of The Washington Post explains.
- Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops (on Twitter) hears that the Hawks are in hot pursuit of Kent Bazemore.
Southwest Notes: Pelicans, Nelson, Butler
Earlier today, I joined Zach Burke, Craig Smoak, and Q on 1660 ESPN Radio in Central Texas to talk LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, the latest on the Mavericks and Rockets, and much more. If you missed out, you can listen to the interview here. Here’s more from around the league..
- The Pelicans are among the many teams that have inquired about Jameer Nelson since his release, but he’s in a holding pattern like everyone else at this stage, tweets David Aldridge of NBA.com.
- USA Today’s Sam Amick adds the Spurs to the list of teams pursuing Caron Butler, while Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times says the Wizards are after him, too (Twitter link).
- The Grizzlies have expressed interest in free agent point guard Brian Roberts, tweets Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops.
- When the Mavs traded for Tyson Chandler, it removed them as the suitor for Marcin Gortat that the Wizards feared the most,Grantland’s Zach Lowe writes.
LeBron’s Return To Miami Not Certain
This week, several reports have indicated that LeBron James was leaning heavily towards re-signing with the Heat and clubs around the league seem to have shifted their focus away from the game’s top talent. In fact, while Carmelo Anthony continues his nationwide tour, teams have been having trouble getting in touch with James’ camp. However, a report from Chris Broussard of ESPN.com paints a different picture of where the Heat stand with James.
After a lunch meeting last Wednesday, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were committed to returning to the Heat, but James was unsure of what he would do, sources said. James also did not ask or suggest that Wade and Bosh opt out of their deals or take lesser salaries to allow the Heat to add other top players. Bosh and Wade are intent on returning, but neither of them knows what James will do.
Bosh and Wade were so uncertain about James’s future after the meeting that one of them spoke about what the Heat might look like without him, according to one source. Where LeBron winds up, as far as Bosh and Wade are concerned, is still up in the air. The only certainty is that James wants a max deal.
Latest On Gordon Hayward
WEDNESDAY, 11:53am: Hayward is meeting with the Cavs in Cleveland today, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
TUESDAY, 5:22pm: The Jazz clearly want to keep restricted free agent Gordon Hayward, but it seems like other teams will give them a run for their money. The Jazz are vowing to match any offer to Hayward gets but Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter) is hearing fresh rumbles that the Cavs are thinking about giving the forward a hefty offer sheet.
The Celtics love Hayward too, but A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (via Twitter) hears from a source that it’s “highly unlikely” that the C’s will land him. That same source reiterated that the Jazz plan to match any offer sent his way. Still, Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe (on Twitter) notes that there is mutual interest between the RFA and Boston. Coach Brad Stevens would love to have Hayward on his roster and the feeling is reciprocated from the 24-year-old.
Nets Close To Deal With Lionel Hollins
11:48am: Hollins and the Nets will likely come to a deal worth $4-5MM a season over four to five years, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com
8:41am: Hollins would end up with more than $4MM per year in the deal the two sides are closing in on, Stein adds.
WEDNESDAY, 8:31am: The Nets are nearing an agreement with Hollins, with the expectation that they’ll strike a deal today, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
TUESDAY, 2:35pm: The Nets talked to Kevin Ollie about the job, but he said he’s content at the University of Connecticut, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News tweets.
11:24am: The Nets are more or less focused solely on Hollins, in spite of King’s statements to the contrary, according to Wojnarowski (on Twitter).
9:58am: A source tells Marc Stein of ESPN.com that the Nets are “lasered in” on Hollins, and that such was the case even before they met with him (Twitter link).
9:41am: Hollins wasn’t the first person with whom King spoke, but the GM won’t identify who was, Vasquez notes (via Twitter).
9:23am: Regardless of whom the Nets hire, it’s likely to be someone with experience, King also indicated, as The Record’s Andy Vasquez tweets. That would seem to cast doubt on Messina’s candidacy.
TUESDAY, 9:16am: Nets GM Billy King had dinner on Monday with Hollins and will meet with him again this morning, as King told reporters, including Newsday’s Roderick Boone (Twitter link). Still, King has reached out to other candidates and says he can envision those talks progressing, tweets Tim Bontemps of the New York Post.
MONDAY, 5:41pm: The Lakers have renewed interest in Hollins as well, a source tells USA Today’s Sam Amick. Los Angeles hopes to talk with Hollins or his representatives later this week. Byron Scott has been considered to be the frontrunner for the L.A. job.
4:27pm: The Nets have arranged for a meeting with coaching target Lionel Hollins, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Wojnarowski terms Hollins as the Nets’ “top coaching target.” The two sides will meet in the next 24-48 hours.
The Nets, of course, are in the market for a new head coach after reaching agreement on a deal with the Bucks that sends Jason Kidd to Milwaukee in exchange for a pair of second-round selections. George Karl and Ettore Messina also appear to be the mix for Brooklyn, while Mark Jackson may or may not be a candidate.
Hollins, the former Grizzlies’ head coach, has interviewed for several of this offseason’s top jobs.
Kyle Lowry Will Take Few Days To Make Decision
WEDNESDAY, 7:59am: Lowry wants nothing less than a deal worth $40MM over four years, sources tell Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, who hears the Raptors would be comfortable at four years, $44MM. That’s less than the $12MM a year that Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported earlier that the Raptors would offer, but the key may be whether Toronto extends its offer to a fifth year, as Grange suggests and as Stein reported that the team is considering
TUESDAY, 10:00pm: Lowry’s bidders include the Raptors, Rockets, and Lakers. The Heat have not progressed their talks with him, however, tweets Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.
9:08pm: Guard Kyle Lowry told the Raptors today that he’ll take a few days to make up his mind, tweets David Aldridge of NBA.com. The Raptors, meanwhile, are still confident that they’ll retain the point guard. “He knows us, and we know him,” a source said.
Lowry has been an extremely popular guy over the last ~22 hours. A number of clubs have reached out to the 28-year-old, including the Heat. Miami is reportedly telling clubs that they have about $12MM to spend, which is in line with the reported offer that the Raptors are making to Lowry.
Toronto, meanwhile, was said to be thinking about making a five-year offer to the veteran. It’s not known for certain if the Raptors went through with that pitch in their meeting with Lowry in Philadelphia earlier today.
Free Agent Rumors: LeBron, Deng, Jamison
Suns managing partner Robert Sarver expressed confidence in his club’s chances of luring LeBron James to Phoenix, writes Bob Young of the Arizona Republic. “We are in a good position,” he said. “We have a lot to offer, too, with the depth of our roster compared to some of the other teams. We think we have a favorable opportunity, but obviously he’ll make his decision when he wants to make it. He’ll look at the facts and make a decision.”
- Luol Deng would welcome the chance to return to the Bulls, agent Ron Shade told Sam Amick of USA Today. “There’s always going to be a part of him that belongs to Chicago, and part of Chicago that belongs to him,” Shade said. “There were no hard feelings (about the trade). Moving forward, he’d look to have an amicable relationship (if he played with the Bulls).“
- Free agent forward Antawn Jamison, 38, is in good shape and is not contemplating retirement, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
- Kent Bazemore has meetings lined up with the Spurs next Tuesday followed by the Celtics next Wednesday, sources tell Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops (on Twitter).
- Anthony Morrow, one of the league’s best shooters, has received interest from 12 teams around the league since free agency began, tweets Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops.
- With Shaun Livingston out of the picture for the Nets, one option for the mini mid-level exception is Bojan Bogdanovic, league sources tell Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (on Twitter).
- In addition to the previously reported Hornets and Blazers, Josh McRoberts has drawn interest from the Mavs, Cavs, Heat, Clippers, Knicks, Spurs, Suns and Lakers, a source tells Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Southeast Rumors: Gasol, Heat, Gortat, Ariza
We rounded up news from the Southeast Division earlier tonight and we’ve got even more for you here..
- You can add Pau Gasol to the Heat‘s wish list. Team president Pat Riley had a phone conversation with the big man today, a league source tells Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
- The Heat reached out to Marcin Gortat but talks didn’t get very far, tweets Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. The big man was focused on a new deal with the Wizards which was accomplished tonight.
- J. Michael of CSNWashington.com (on Twitter) hears that Trevor Ariza may have been “inspired” by Gortat signing so quickly with the Wizards and his own deal might get fast tracked as a result.
Mills Needs Surgery, Spurs Re-Signing Likely
Spurs guard Patty Mills could be out of action for up to seven months thanks to a shoulder injury, according to Chris Dutton of The Canberra Times. There’s a strong likelihood that Mills, a free agent this summer, will re-sign with the Spurs and return to action with San Antonio in the New Year, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
While seven months of down time is the initial estimate, Stein says that a firmer diagnosis will come post-surgery. The Spurs and Mills have already started discussions on a new deal, but the injury is bound to shrink Mills’ market (link).
In a career-high 81 games this past season, Mills averaged 10.2 PPG and 2.1 RPG with a PER of 18.7.
LeBron James Not Currently Engaged With Teams
The growing belief around the league has been that LeBron James will ultimately wind up back in Miami. All signs continue to point in that direction. Teams hoping to engage James have been mostly unable to and while no doors have been closed, teams are moving on, tweets Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.
It’s been known for a while that the free agency market would be in a holding pattern as teams are prioritizing runs at James and Carmelo Anthony. While Anthony’s free agency could continue to gum up the works for other free agents, it doesn’t appear at this time that will be the case with LeBron.
It seems that the most likely scenario will be James re-signing with the Heat while teammates Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade take discounts to help the team improve in other areas.