Wolves, Grizzlies Discussing Budinger, Barea
12:26pm: A source involved in the talks tells Berger that the proposal is “dead,” though others are holding out hope for revival. Some members of the Memphis camp suspect the Timberwolves are using these discussions to further their chances for a different deal, according to Amick (Twitter links).
12:13pm: The Grizzlies are “very unlikely” to yield on Allen, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.
11:12am: The Wolves are eager to swap Barea, but they’re somewhat reluctant to move Budinger, Wolfson adds (on Twitter).
11:01am: There’s no way Wolves executive Flip Saunders will make the trade without Allen as part of it, Wolfson tweets.
10:50am: The teams are “nowhere close to a deal,” according to Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal, who seconds what Wojnarowski is hearing about the Grizzlies’ reluctance to include Allen (Twitter link). Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities nonetheless hears the clubs are making progress, as he notes on Twitter.
10:45am: The Wolves are insisting that Allen be included along with Prince in a deal for Budinger and Barea, but the Grizzlies are resisting at the moment, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
WEDNESDAY, 10:23am: The Grizzlies and Wolves have gained momentum toward a deal involving Prince and Allen, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Presumably, Budinger and Barea are also still a part of the talks.
MONDAY, 7:04pm: The Grizzlies are discussing a deal with the Timberwolves centered on forward Chase Budinger and guard J.J. Barea, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Memphis wants to include forward Tayshaun Prince into the package and the deal could be expanded to include guard Tony Allen, though components of a proposed deal are still fluid.
Memphis has been trying to unload Prince and his cumbersome contract, sources tell Wojnarowski. The forward is earning $7.2MM this season and will make $7.7MM in 2014/15. on his contract. Meanwhile, Wolves GM Flip Saunders is believed to want to add defensive toughness to his roster, and that would make Allen a natural fit.
Budinger, 25, missed much of the early season recovering from knee surgery, and has averaged 6.0 PPG in 17.7 minutes per game this season. Barea, 29, is averaging 8.7 PPG in 18 minutes per contest this season. The Wolves badly want to make the playoffs this season with Kevin Love’s free agency on the horizon and they have reportedly been open to moving the diminutive guard in order to help make that happen.
Allen has been sidelined since early January with a fracture in his left hand. In his 27 games this season, Allen has averaged 10.2 PPG off of 49.3% shooting from the floor.
Wolves Have Interest In Andre Miller
TUESDAY, 2:00pm: The Wolves would be Miller’s top choice for a trade destination, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, who notes that it’s probably not a factor in Denver’s thinking. The Nuggets still aren’t making progress on a Miller trade, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
MONDAY, 9:05pm: The Timberwolves are among the clubs that have expressed interest in Nuggets guard Andre Miller, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Wolves would only acquire Miller if they find another home for guard J.J. Barea, however.
A straight-up swap of the two probably isn’t in the cards as Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (on Twitter) believes that such a deal has already been proposed. The Nuggets, unsurprisingly, rebuffed the Wolves’ offer.
The veteran guard left the club earlier this year and apparently has no interest in returning to them this season. The 37-year-old isn’t the player he once was, but he has proven to be one of the most durable players in the league. Our own Chuck Myron recently looked at Miller as a trade candidate.
Bulls Sign Jarvis Varnado
TUESDAY, 12:25pm: Chicago has officially announced the deal.
MONDAY, 10:44pm: The Bulls are set to sign Jarvis Varnado to a 10-day deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). The big man worked out for Chicago on Monday and they apparently liked what they saw.
Varnado worked out for the 76ers back in January along with other big men but didn’t make the cut for their vacant roster spot. Earlier this month, it was reported that Varnado, a shot-blocking specialist, was drawing interest from multiple NBA clubs. The 25-year-old probably hopes to see more burn than he did last season. In 13 games with Boston and Miami, Varnado logged a grand total of 58 minutes.
Lamar Odom To Play In Spain
7:58am: Odom will earn about $50K per month with Laboral Vitoria, according to Chema de Lucas of Gigantes (translation via Sportando, on Twitter).
TUESDAY, 7:43am: Odom has officially signed with the Spanish team, according to the Euroleague’s website.
MONDAY, 6:37pm: Lamar Odom has reached agreement on a deal with Spanish club Laboral Vitoria, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). David Pick of Eurobasket.com (on Twitter) first passed along word that Odom was in talks with the team. Odom intends to play out the rest of the season in Spain, Stein adds.
The Clippers were flirting with the idea of signing the veteran forward for much of the season but they wound up inking the likes of Hedo Turkoglu and Sasha Vujacic instead. It has been a rocky few years for the 34-year-old New York City native. Odom was a bust when he was with the Mavericks for the 2011/12 season and even though he saw time in all of the Clippers’ 82 games in 2012/13, he reportedly went into a downward spiral over the summer that included a DUI and possible drug abuse. It remains to be seen whether he can find his way back to the NBA, but the basketball world is rooting for him.
Odds & Ends: Cavs, China, Akognon, Melo
The fates of GM David Griffin and coach Mike Brown hang in the balance, as does Cleveland’s appeal to free agents as the team embarks on a season-ending stretch run that’s one of the most important times in franchise history, writes Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio. The Cavs are 20-33 coming out of the All-Star break and will hope for a major turnaround in their last 29 games. Here’s tonight’s look around the Association..
- The Chinese basketball season is through and Emiliano Carchia of Sportando rounded up a list of notable CBA players who will now be available for NBA clubs. The list includes Pooh Jeter, Delonte West, D.J. White, Lance Thomas, and Josh Akognon.
- Akognon has offers from Puerto Rico and Europe but may head to the D-League in an effort to keep his NBA hopes alives, Carchia writes. Akognon averaged 28 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 5.0 APG in 30 games for his Chinese clubs.
- Ken Berger of CBSSports.com gives props to LaMarcus Aldridge and Carmelo Anthony for caring about the wellbeing of the NBPA. Both stars were vocal about the union during the weekend in New Orleans.
- In his latest mock draft, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders dropped Duke’s Jabari Parker to No. 5 after executives told him that they were concerned he might be a tweener in the NBA.
- The Warriors announced that they have assigned Ognjen Kuzmic to their D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz. Kuzmic has compiled averages of 6.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 21.4 minutes in nine games (one start) on previous assignments to Santa Cruz this season. He has appeared in 17 games for Golden State.
- The Rockets announced they have re-assigned guard Isaiah Canaan to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League. To keep up with all of this year’s D-League assignments and recalls, check out Hoops Rumors’ running list.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Los Angeles Rumors: Vujacic, Clippers, Kobe
Earlier tonight, we learned that former Lakers and Clippers standout Lamar Odom has agreed to play in Spain for the remainder of the season. Odom was once deadset on making his NBA return with Doc Rivers and the Clippers, but he’ll presumably be more open to other opportunities as he tries to work his way back. Here’s the latest out of the Staples Center..
- The Clippers won’t re-sign Sasha Vujacic to a second 10-day contract, tweets Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Coach Doc Rivers says that the club could re-sign the veteran guard later on if they don’t use the roster spot on someone else.
- Word from the Clippers camp indicates that they won’t part with a meaningful asset like Reggie Bullock or a first-round draft pick to avoid the luxury tax, tweets Zach Lowe of Grantland.com. However, Lowe is somewhat skeptical and believes that might not prove to be true.
- Kobe Bryant thinks the Lakers are well-positioned for the summer ahead, but he says doesn’t want to have input on the team’s decision-making, observes Brett Pollakoff of NBCSports.com.
- Former Lakers guard Kareem Rush says he isn’t through playing just yet, writes Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Raptors Interested In Rajon Rondo
We can add another team to the list of clubs that have interest in Celtics star Rajon Rondo. The Raptors have their eye on Rondo as they listen on offers for their own starting point guard, Kyle Lowry, writes Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.
Rondo has several fans in the Toronto front office and the Raptors are eager to bring in a bonafide star. Of course, the Celtics and GM Danny Ainge have gone on record many, many times to say that they won’t part ways with Rondo. However, anything is possible and at the very least, the phone lines have been open in Boston.
The Knicks still want to pair Rondo with pending free agent Carmelo Anthony, though it’s hard to see them putting together the necessary pieces to swing such a deal. Earlier tonight, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports reported that a deal sending Rondo to the Kings for Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore, and two picks was nixed due to the C’s star being unwilling to re-sign with Sacramento in the summer of 2015.
Spears On Rondo, Lin, Barnes, Turner
Can the Rockets keep soaring past the All-Star break? In his latest power rankings, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports brings Houston up from No. 7 to No. 4, putting them right behind the Heat, Pacers, and Thunder. Will they make a big splash in the days to come to hold their spot? Spears has the goods on that and more..
- According to a source, the Kings offered the Celtics Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore, and two picks for Rajon Rondo. However, Rondo wasn’t interested in re-signing with Sacramento.
- While the Rockets would love to trade Omer Asik, a source says they won’t trade reserve Jeremy Lin due to the scoring value he brings.
- Sources tell Spears that Warriors executives have informed forward Harrison Barnes that, barring a blockbuster offer, he will not be traded before Thursday’s deadline. Recently, Warriors owner Joe Lacob said that he hopes to keep Barnes for the long haul.
- The 76ers want to move Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes and could act as a third team in a significant trade.
- Raptors coach Dwane Casey is in the final year of his deal but Spears hears that he has impressed GM Masai Ujiri.
- The Pelicans could be trading guard Austin Rivers and the rights to D-League guard Pierre Jackson between now and Thursday.
- The Kings are in the market for a veteran backup point guard who can push the ball up the floor.
- With several teams looking for backup point guards, Bucks veteran Luke Ridnour could be on the move.
Northwest Rumors: Blazers, Aldridge, Nuggets
Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin knows that anything can happen at the trade deadline. He was just a rookie with the Spurs when the legendary George Gervin was traded from San Antonio to the Bulls. “I didn’t think a guy like George Gervin could be traded,” said the coach, according to Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune (on Twitter). Here’s the latest out of the Northwest Division..
- LaMarcus Aldridge tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com that multiple fellow All-Stars approached him this weekend to say that they’d like to join the Blazers. Aldridge declined to identify the players.
- Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post (via Twitter) notes that if Andre Miller really wanted to return to the Nuggets, he could have taken steps to make it happen. However, it’s clear that he has little-to-no desire to rejoin Denver.
- Terry Frei of the Denver Post implores the Nuggets to clean up their mess.
Odds & Ends: Sixers, Spurs, Ilyasova, LeBron
Defense may win championships, but it doesn’t mean much in the All-Star game. Tonight the Eastern Conference topped the West 163-155 behind the stellar play of Kyrie Irving, who had 31 points and 14 dimes. Here’s tonight’s look around the Association..
- The 76ers have held trade discussions with all 29 other NBA teams and are believed to be the most active in talks leading up to the deadline, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. General Manager Sam Hinkie & Co. are seeking future draft picks in compensation for Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Thaddeus Young. Teams view the 76ers as an organization willing to acquire an expiring contract and they’re still not budging on their demand of high first round picks.
- The Spurs would love to acquire Young or Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova, but no one is sure how they can make that happen, writes Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
- Cavs owner Dan Gilbert recently opened up about his decision to write an open letter after LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, writes Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. “I would’ve reworded the language in The Letter, but I don’t regret sending a letter out to our fan base,” Gilbert said. “People forget the letter was not to LeBron, it was to our fan base. If I had to do it again, for sure, I would’ve reworded several parts of it. But I think it definitely needed a strong statement from me at that time. I keep a couple binders on my desk and I have a binder of the responses to The Letter from the people of Cleveland.” Late last week we rounded up more of Gilbert’s thoughts on the state of his franchise.