Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

Rockets Rumors

And-Ones: Deng, Mavs, Ariza

July 5th, 2014 at 11:11pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Luol Deng is apparently sticking to his desire for $12MM per season, notes Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio (Twitter link). Deng has spoken with the Heat who are unsure about how much cap space they will have until LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade make their decisions, and the Hawks who are currently unwilling to pay that amount, according to the tweet. Deng’s best chance might be with the Mavericks who he is scheduled to meet with soon, opines Amico.

Here’s more from around the league:

  •  Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders runs through the best and worst performances from the first day of Summer League action, including some lottery picks making their debuts.
  • The Rockets and the Cavaliers are getting closer to creating max contract slots, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The Rockets are discussing deals for Jeremy Lin, and the Cavs have been shopping Jarrett Jack packaged with a draft pick, notes Wojnarowski.
  • Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders looks at the Mavericks cap situation after the reported signing of Devin Harris.
  • Trevor Ariza met with the Heat on Thursday, reports Michael Lee of The Washington Post (Twitter link).
Repost Share Send via email

Western Notes: Pelicans, Hawes, Anthony, Bosh

July 5th, 2014 at 9:38pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Pelicans haven’t made any moves in the free agent market yet, but still have Anthony Morrow in their sights, writes John Reid of The Times Picayune. New Orleans’ primary focus though, continues to be finding a trade partner to move either Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers or center Alexis Ajinca in an effort to create enough cap space to absorb center Omer Asik‘s $8.4MM cap hit, notes Reid. The article also notes that several teams remain interested in acquiring forward Ryan Anderson in a trade, but the Pelicans are still reluctant to part ways with him.

More from the Western Conference:

  • Spencer Hawes was the Trail Blazers primary free agent target this summer, writes Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Haynes reports that Portland offered the exact same contract terms as the Clippers, but Hawes found Los Angeles to be a better fit.
  • Despite the reports that the Knicks are likely to retain Carmelo Anthony, the Lakers made a major impression on the free agent, reports Bill Simmons of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Simmons’ sources, it’s now a three team battle between New York, Los Angeles, or the Bulls to land ‘Melo’s shot attempts.
  • Chris Bosh definitely has an interest in the Rockets and Mavs, reports Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio (Twitter link). Amico also notes that Bosh has “zero knowledge” of what LeBron James is going to do in free agency.
Repost Share Send via email

And-Ones: Deng, Novak, Rockets, Bazemore

July 5th, 2014 at 4:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Erik Spoelstra joined Pat Riley to meet with Luol Deng in Chicago today, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The Heat are said to have interest in Deng, but they might not be willing to take on the reported $12MM annual price tag for the forward. Here’s more from around the NBA:

  • Raptors GM Masai Ujiri has indicated that second round pick DeAndre Daniels will be stashed in Europe for a year to get some much-needed playing time, writes Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.
  • The Thunder are bringing aboard Darko Rajakovic as an assistant coach, the team announced via press release. Rajakovic has spent the past two seasons as the head coach of the Tulsa 66ers, OKC’s D-League affiliate.
  • Steve Novak will bring some much needed shooting to the Jazz, writes Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune.  Novak is a career 43.9% shooter from 3-point range over eight seasons, almost exactly the same figure as Kyle Korver.  The money owed to him over the next two years (about $7.5MM) was enough to make the Raptors want to dump his salary, but it wasn’t prohibitive for Utah.
  • Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow extended a two-year, €3MM offer to free agent guard Nando De Colo, tweets David Pick of Eurobasket.com. That figure translates into roughly $4.08MM.
  • Put the Rockets on the growing list of teams interested in Kent Bazemore, says Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (on Twitter).
  • Ike Diogu has signed with Dongguan in China on a deal that allows him to jump ship to the NBA anytime between now and August 15th, tweets Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
  • A rumored agreement between Andres Nocioni and Real Madrid is not a done deal, according to Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype (on Twitter).  The forward is still receiving interest from NBA teams (link).

Charlie Adams contributed to this post.

Repost Share Send via email

Bucks, Sixers Interested In Jeremy Lin

July 5th, 2014 at 12:56pm CST by Zachary Links

12:56pm: The Bucks like Lin as a player, but have no interest in his $15MM salary next season, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo (on Twitter).

12:32pm: The Sixers and Bucks have expressed interest in trading for guard Jeremy Lin, sources tell ESPN.com’s Marc Stein.  Of course, both clubs want to see what kind of sweetner Houston is willing to throw in.

The 76ers, who have tons of room to absorb Lin’s deal and won’t have to send salary back, have emerged as a leading contender for the guard.  If the Rockets can dump Lin’s salary without having to absorb any other contracts, they can give themselves enough room necessary to possibly land Carmelo Anthony or Chris Bosh.

It’s believed that the Rockets would have to send Philly at least one future first-round pick to convince the Sixers to go through with the deal, given that Lin is owed $15MM next season.  Only $8.4MM will count against the salary cap, but that’s still a hefty amount to take on.  Sources say that the Sixers, though, are happy to take on Lin, despite having Michael Carter-Williams slated as their starting point guard, provided that the extra asset or two they get from Houston is sufficiently attractive.

Of course, it helps that Sixers GM Sam Hinkie is close with Rockets GM Daryl Morey from their days in Houston together.

Repost Share Send via email

Latest On Luol Deng

July 4th, 2014 at 9:14am CST by Chuck Myron

The Hawks were reportedly mulling a run at Luol Deng as of last week, and it looks like they’ve indeed moved forward with a pursuit, as coach Mike Budenholzer was set to meet Thursday with the 29-year-old forward, USA Today’s Sam Amick reports. Amick also adds the Rockets to the list of suitors for the client of Herb Rudoy and Ronald Shade.

Deng is seeking $12MM salaries, roughly the same amount of space Atlanta has beneath the cap, Amick writes. Atlanta’s deal with Thabo Sefolosha has apparently boosted the team’s stock with Deng, who has a close relationship with his former Bulls teammate, and Deng is also friends with Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver, another former sidekick in Chicago, Amick notes.

Reports on Thursday indicated that the Clippers and Deng had mutual interest and that the 10-year veteran would speak Thursday with Clippers coach/executive Doc Rivers, who’s searching for sign-and-trade scenarios to upgrade his capped-out roster. Still, it looks like Rivers is demanding too much for Cleveland’s liking for the Cavs to go along with a sign-and-trade involving Deng, Amick says.

Deng is unlikely to make his decision before Carmelo Anthony does, according to Amick, and the Rockets in particular would be inclined to wait as they hold out hope of signing ‘Melo. The Heat, Wizards, Mavs, Suns, Bulls have all been reported to have interest in Deng since the start of free agency, but while Shade has said his client would welcome a chance to re-sign with Chicago, Amick deems the idea of Deng reuniting with the Bulls as a long shot. Washington would only remain in the market for Deng if they can’t come to terms with Trevor Ariza, Amick also says.

Repost Share Send via email

Rockets Interested In Chris Bosh

July 4th, 2014 at 12:02am CST by Zachary Links

The Rockets still hope to land Carmelo Anthony this summer, but they have a plan B in mind in the event that they don’t.  The Rockets have already let Chris Bosh know that they’re still huge fans of his, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

Many league observers still think Miami will find a way to keep the Big Three together, but the sudden uncertainty surrounding the Heat gives Houston fresh hope in their pursuit of Bosh (link).  While a big three of Carmelo Anthony, James Harden, and Dwight Howard would be exceptional, one that substitutes Anthony for Bosh sounds nearly as fearsome.

The Rockets have been tremendously active since the official start of free agency and while it’s too early to say whether they’ll be successful, no one could accuse GM Daryl Morey & Co. of not being creative or ambitious.

Repost Share Send via email

Latest On LeBron James

July 3rd, 2014 at 10:52pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the LeBron James sweepstakes officially underway, Chris Broussard of ESPN.com is reporting (Twitter link) that officials from the Cavs, Mavs, Rockets, and Suns have already met with LeBron’s agent Rich Paul this week in Cleveland.

More on the four-time MVP:

  • Rich Paul invited three teams – the Cavs, Mavs, and Suns – to the offices of his Klutch Sports headquarters to listen to pitches.  In those meetings, Paul suggested that if Pat Riley cannot quickly put a strong supporting cast together in Miami, LeBron could meet face-to-face with other suitors, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.  Meanwhile, Rockets officials were not granted a meeting with Paul and therefore have decided to focus on Carmelo Anthony.
  • ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports that Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is flying to Cleveland to meet with James’ agent, Rich Paul (link via Chris Broussard of ESPN on Twitter).
  • One team official who met with James’ agent in Cleveland tells Wojnarowski (Twitter link) that he believes LeBron’s reported exploration of other teams is a “smoke screen.”  Presumably, that team official sees this as something of a power play for James to get the players that he wants around him in Miami.
  • Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio (Twitter link) confirms “without question” that the Cavaliers were one of the teams that had a sit down with Paul.
  • The three finalists for James’ services could return to Cleveland early next week to make presentations with Paul and LeBron present, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
  • Wojnarowski also tweets that an official who was part of meetings says “There’s clearly a breakdown in communication between LeBron and (Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh).“
  • In another tweet, Wojnarowski also reports that unless Pat Riley lines up talent appealing to James within the Heat’s cap structure soon, “LeBron seems ready to explore [the] market.”
  • Suns owner Robert Sarver was in Cleveland yesterday to meet with Paul, reports Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The possibility of teaming up James with either Carmelo Anthony or Chris Bosh was discussed, notes Broussard.
Repost Share Send via email

And-Ones: Gasol, Knicks, Lakers, Marion

July 3rd, 2014 at 10:08pm CST by Eddie Scarito

There won’t be a decision from Pau Gasol anytime soon as to where he will be signing, reports David Aldridge of NBA.com. This is despite the pleas and pitches he has received from Carmelo Anthony and numerous teams, notes Aldridge.

More from around the league:

Repost Share Send via email

Western Notes: Randle, Lin, Ariza, Stuckey, Davis

July 2nd, 2014 at 11:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Specialists have determined that Lakers first-round pick Julius Randle does not need surgery on his right foot and has been cleared to play, tweets Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. More from around the NBA..

  • Rockets GM Daryl Morey brushed off criticism over the club’s decision to photoshop Carmelo Anthony wearing the No. 7 that is sported by Jeremy Lin, writes Mark Berman of FOX 26.  Of course, if Houston manages to sign Melo, that could mean the end of Lin in Houston.  “Bottom line, if Carmelo comes Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin have to be traded. It’s just math. It’s not personal,” said the GM.
  • The Jazz are among the suitors for Trevor Ariza, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
  • Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter) hears that there is definite interest in free agent guard Rodney Stuckey, particularly from high-level clubs.  Goodwill suggests that a return to the Pacific Northwest could also be in the cards for the guard.  In recent days, we’ve heard that the Magic and Pacers have interest.
  • The Clippers have been talking to free agent Ed Davis and they’re optimistic, tweets Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com.  The Grizzlies opted against tendering the 25-year-old an offer earlier this offseason.
Repost Share Send via email

Eastern Notes: Billups, Livingston, Carmelo

July 2nd, 2014 at 10:56pm CST by Zachary Links

While Chauncey Billups has a number of coaching, front office, and media opportunities available to him, he hasn’t decided if he wants to retire and walk away from the game just yet, writes Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.  “As far as me playing, I feel really good right now for the first time in a long time – in two or three years,” Billups said. “I know that in the right situation, I can really help a team win. But it would take the right situation. I’m not going to play just to play. I have nothing left to prove and I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish playing basketball, so it would take the right situation for me to play.”  The guard spent last season with the Pistons and saw just 19 games of action.

  • It sounds like Shaun Livingston had strong interest from several other clubs, including the Heat, before he agreed to sign with the Warriors, tweets Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News.
  • Tim Bontemps of the New York Post looks at where the Nets stand after losing Livingston to the Warriors.
  • If the Bulls are worried about their chances of landing Carmelo Anthony, that should give an indication of the long odds that the Rockets, Mavs, and Lakers are up against, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.  He posits that the Knicks‘ confidence through the process might be justified.
  • The Sixers have expressed interest in Kent Bazemore, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.  As previously reported, the Jazz, Hawks, Celtics, Mavs, Lakers, Suns, and Bulls also have interest in the guard.
  • Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter) gets the sense that the Hornets are unlikely to land a big fish free agent this summer.
Repost Share Send via email
Load More Posts