Free Agent Rumors: Jamison, Sessions, Lewis
Five days into free agency, a number of big names, such as Deron Williams, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, are off the market. But there are still plenty of players out there looking for contracts. We'll wrap up many of today's free agent updates right here, with the latest items added to the top of the page throughout the day….
- Antawn Jamison had dinner in Charlotte with Bobcats executives Rod Higgins and Rich Cho, writes Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter links). The former UNC star has also been talking to Warriors general manager Bob Myers, Jamison's former agent, and will chat with head coach Mark Jackson in the near future.
- The Mavericks have reached out to Ramon Sessions for a second time and pitched a starting job to the veteran point guard, writes Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com.
- Rashard Lewis will visit the Heat this weekend after having his contract bought out by the Hornets, reports David Aldridge of NBA.com (Twitter links). The Hawks and the Knicks are among other teams interested in the veteran forward.
Earlier updates:
Rockets Make Offer To Jeremy Lin
4:58pm: Lin wants more money than the $31MM offer from the Rockets, reports Ian O'Connor of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter links). Lin is now waiting to see if the Mavericks present him with an offer as the team remains in the hunt for a starting point guard.
10:59am: The Rockets' offer is for four years and worth a little over $30MM, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Marc Berman of the New York Post pegs it at about $31MM. Lin has yet to make a decision on whether to accept it.
THURSDAY, 12:28am: The Rockets have extended an offer to Jeremy Lin and he's considering it, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Houston's multiyear offer includes a significant raise in year three, designed to hit the Knicks hard in the luxury tax. Lin will mull over the offer sheet and decide whether to accept it or to keep shopping, says Wojnarowski (all Twitter links).
Rockets Interested In Aaron Brooks
After losing Goran Dragic to the Suns and agreeing to send Kyle Lowry to the Raptors, the Rockets are in need of a point guard. They've reportedly made an offer to Jeremy Lin, but he has yet to accept it, and even if he does, the Knicks are a good bet to match. Now, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, Houston is eyeing former Rocket Aaron Brooks. The team will meet with Brooks this weekend, says Kennedy.
Goran Dragic, Suns Agree To Four-Year Deal
12:47am: The deal is for four years and $30MM, with $1MM bonuses if Dragic makes the All-Star team, says Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter).
12:00am: Shortly after agreeing to send Steve Nash to Los Angeles in a sign-and-trade deal, the Suns have filled their opening at point guard with unrestricted free agent Goran Dragic. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the Suns and Dragic have agreed to a four-year contract worth $34MM. According to SI.com's Sam Amick (Twitter link), the fourth year is a player option.
Free Agent Rumors: Hill, Dragic, McGee, Shved
Happy Fourth of July to all of our American readers! Even though it's a holiday, we're expecting more free agent developments, so we'll be providing our usual updates all day long. Here are a few of Wednesday's more minor free agent rumors, with the latest items added to the top of the page throughout the day….
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News tweets that Grant Hill will either join Steve Nash in signing with the Lakers or retire.
- Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic tweets that the Suns are unwilling to offer Goran Dragic the $10MM per year he is reportedly seeking.
- Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) hears that negotiations between JaVale McGee and the Nuggets are "going well."
Earlier updates:
Latest On Goran Dragic
8:45pm: CBSSports.com's Ken Berger reports (via Twitter) that the Charlotte Bobcats have been in contact with Dragic's camp and will be making him an offer tonight. He adds in another tweet that the Mavericks, Raptors, and Suns are also pursuing Dragic and that he is still "far apart" in talks with the Rockets.
8:41pm: With Deron Williams re-signing with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday and Steve Nash's stunning trade to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier today, the Rockets' Goran Dragic is arguably the best point guard remaining in free agency. ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweets that, following the Nash trade, the Phoenix Suns will be aggressively pursuing Dragic.
Raptors Still Trying To Acquire Kyle Lowry
The Raptors continue to try to acquire Kyle Lowry from the Rockets, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Raps appear to be fading in the Steve Nash sweepstakes, but even if they're able to land Nash, the team will still have interest in trading for Lowry, says Stein.
Dwight Howard Rumors: Wednesday
Yesterday's round of Dwight Howard rumors was fairly eventful, featuring reports that the Magic are discussing deals with a number of teams, including the Lakers and Nets. The Nets still appear determined to put together a complicated package for Howard, though their increasing cap figure will make it difficult. The Lakers, meanwhile, seem willing to offer Andrew Bynum, but only with Metta World Peace in the deal as well, and only if D12 agrees to sign a long-term deal. I don't think that package gets it done for a Magic team looking for cap relief.
We'll round up today's Howard updates right here, so check back throughout the day for the latest:
Courtney Lee Becomes Unrestricted Free Agent
7:33PM: Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc J. Spears reports that several teams are interested in Lee's services, including the Bulls, Pacers, Wizards, Mavericks, and Clippers.
6:56PM: The Rockets have withdrawn their qualifying offer to shooting guard Courtney Lee, making him an unrestricted free agent, tweets ESPN.com's Marc Stein. The team previously had the right to match any offers for Lee's services.
Jeremy Lin To Meet With Rockets
5:43PM: In a tweet from Hoopsworld.com's Alex Kennedy, Houston may make a three-year "poison pill" offer to Jeremy Lin that pays Lin $5MM, $5.2MM and $13.8MM. The move would be similar to what the Rockets did earlier this week with restricted free agent Omer Asik.
1:51PM: Restricted free agent Jeremy Lin will visit the Rockets tomorrow, tweets ESPN.com's Chris Broussard. The meeting is yet another indication that Houston is increasingly pessimistic about bringing back Goran Dragic. The Rockets are expected to offer a contract similar to the one Dragic turned down, tweets Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.