Mavs To Retain Brandan Wright
The Mavs will bring back center Brandan Wright next season, reports Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com. Donnie Nelson, the team's president of basketball operations, described the move as a "formality." Wright is slated to make the minimum salary of $992,680.
Odds & Ends: Freeland, Thunder, Knicks, Bulls
Joel Freeland will talk to the Trail Blazers this weekend and could agree to a contract before the Olympics, according to Ian Whittell of the Wardle Whittell Agency (Twitter links). Freeland, who was drafted by the Blazers in the first round in 2006, is "open to offers" and will have four Portland execs watching him play Lithuania at an Olympic warm-up in Houston tomorrow, says Whittell (Twitter link).
Here are a few more Friday afternoon odds and ends, including items on the top player on the market, the Western Conference champs, and the NBPA's latest victory….
Southwest Rumors: Landry, Rockets, Cabezas
Tony Parker is seeking $20MM in a lawsuit against the New York nightclub where he sustained an eye injury during a fight involving singer Chris Brown and members of hip-hop star Drake's entourage, the Associated Press reports (via the New York Daily News). Parker isn't expected to miss any time for the Spurs because of the incident. There's plenty of other off-the-court news happening with Southwest Division teams that figures to have a greater on-court impact, as we detail here.
Jason Kidd Willing To Sign With Knicks
Jason Kidd is willing to sign with the Knicks, according to comments the free agent point guard made on The Michael Kay Show on ESPNNewYork.com. Kidd also reiterated his interest in a return to the Nets, the team he played for from 2001 to 2008.
Latest On Deron Williams
This summer's free agent class has something in common with the draft class — it's not obvious who the second-best available player will be, but everyone knows which guy will be the top choice. In the draft, that's Anthony Davis, while in free agency, it's Deron Williams. We know Davis is ticketed for New Orleans, but where will Williams land? ESPN.com's Chris Broussard shares a few updates on this year's top free agent in his latest Insider-only piece, so let's dive in….
Odds & Ends: Lakers, Hawks, Rose
Odds & Ends: Jazz, Harris, Raptors, Draft, Terry
Former Jazz point guard Blake Ahearn is an option for the club's Summer League team, tweets Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune. As for the starting one-guard role, the Jazz know that they need a young floor general but are open to sticking with Devin Harris for another year. Utah fears that they will take a step back if they trade Harris because the 2012 draft is light on point guard prospects (via these Twitter links). Here's more on the Jazz and other items from around the Association as we await Game 4 tomorrow night..
Jason Kidd Open To Nets Return
Free agent Jason Kidd says that he would be open to returning to the Nets this summer, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. The future Hall of Famer says that he likes owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the idea of playing in Brooklyn, but added that Deron Williams being there "is the key."
Odds & Ends: Mills, Magic, Garnett, Shumpert
When Patrick Mills returned from China this season, he signed a two-year deal with the Spurs that included a player option for the second year. Mills will have to make a decision soon, and tells Chris Dutton of The Age that he wants to finalize his NBA future before heading to the Olympics.
"I feel like I need to do my due diligence and really go and see what there is, to make sure I explore every option," Mills said. ''But in saying that, I really enjoy being in San Antonio and being part of that program."
Mills' decision could have an effect on whether or not the Spurs need to pursue a point guard in free agency, as I discussed in my preview of the team's offseason earlier this afternoon. Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA:
Jason Terry Wants Long-Term Deal In Dallas
Speculation has run wild for months with regard to the strategy that the Dallas Mavericks will employ to return to a championship caliber club. One player who doesn't sound all that interested in getting caught up in the rumors is Mavericks guard Jason Terry. If the Mavericks try to do anything but retain him via a multi-year offer, Terry sees himself somewhere else, writes Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News.
“It’s a tough situation. I’m finally in a position where I can kind of predict my own future, so to speak. I want to stay here in Dallas. That’s always been my goal. But it needs to be long-term. If they’re not ready to step up and do that, then I’ll have to make my home elsewhere,” Terry said.