Odds & Ends: World Peace, Jennings, Barbosa
- Brandon Jennings is no lock to return to the Bucks, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times, who says the team is still looking at other point guards.
- The Mavs won't comment on a Brazilian report that the team has been in contact with free agent Leandro Barbosa, notes Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News.
- The Rockets have drawn mention as one of the front-runners for Marcus Camby this week, and agent Rick Kaplan confirms to Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston that the team is a leading candidate, referring to Houston as Camby's "adopted hometown" (All Twitter links).
- Patrick O'Bryant, the ninth overall pick in the 2006 draft, is hoping to return to the NBA, but he's only drawn interest from foreign clubs so far the summer, reports Shams Charania of RealGM.com. O'Bryant last appeared in the Association with the Raptors in 2008/09.
- Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov will likely lose upwards of $50MM this year as he presides over an NBA-record expenditure on the team's roster, writes Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes.com (hat tip to Nets Daily).
- Shaun Powell of Sports on Earth previews next year's star-laden free agent class, arguing that no team has greater stakes on the outcome of the summer of 2014 than the Lakers do.
- Mark Madsen earned a quick promotion after the Lakers hired him in May to coach their D-League team. The Lakers today officially named Madsen and Larry Lewis as assistants on coach Mike D'Antoni's staff.
Eastern Notes: Brown, George, Raptors, Blair
Although their pursuit of Bobby Brown is said to be gathering "momentum," the Knicks aren't the only team interested in the Euroleague star. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports tweets that Brown also has offers from Chinese teams, and is drawing interest from other NBA clubs as well. Here are a few more notes from around the Eastern Conference:
- Appearing on 1070 The Fan, Pacers president Larry Bird said the team is prepared to make a "major offer" to Paul George this offseason to try to lock him up before he hits restricted free agency (hat tip to Pro Basketball Talk).
- Doug Smith of the Toronto Star hears that the Raptors saved about $2MM in guaranteed money in their buyout agreement with Marcus Camby.
- A report last weekend suggested that the Wizards are interested in DeJuan Blair, and Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv confirms (via Twitter) that the interest is mutual. Washington has already used its full mid-level and bi-annual exceptions, leaving only the minimum salary to offer, unless a sign-and-trade can be negotiated.
- While Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio says Daniel Gibson is very unlikely to return to the Cavs, he names the Bucks and Pacers as potential suitors for the 27-year-old (Twitter link).
Kyler’s Latest: Bucks, Magic, Knicks, LeBron
When I asked Hoops Rumors readers yesterday what Brandon Jennings' future holds, about half of you predicted a return to Milwaukee, either on a one-year contract or on a longer-term deal. And according to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, the Bucks have indeed shifted their focus back to retaining Jennings, after their pursuit of Jeff Teague fell short. Here's more from Kyler on the Bucks and a few other situations:
- While the Bucks' three-year, $15MM contract with Zaza Pachulia was viewed as an overpay, sources tell Kyler that Pachulia had received two-year offers worth about the same amount annually, making that third year necessary for Milwaukee to get a deal done.
- The Magic haven't been very involved in free agency this summer, but they continue to work the phones on possible deals. According to Kyler, the team is hoping to reach a buyout agreement with Al Harrington that would reduce his guaranteed salary for the 2014/15 season.
- We've already heard that the Pelicans are preparing an offer in the $3MM range for Greg Oden. Kyler reports that the offer may be worth $3MM+ annually for two years, adding that Oden's camp is looking for a "safe" spot for the former first overall pick to continue his career. An organization with patience and the right kind of expectations is Oden's preference.
- Although the Knicks will continue to be active in looking to add talent this year and next, the team will be careful about taking on any salary beyond next season, says Kyler. With Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, and Andrea Bargnani set to come off the books by the summer of 2015, the Knicks barely have any salary on their books beyond that.
- It's been widely assumed that LeBron James will opt out of his contract next summer in search of a new long-term deal, but Kyler says that's not a lock. LeBron will also have the chance to opt out in the summer of 2015, and the continued health and production of Dwyane Wade figures to play a significant part in the MVP's decision.
Contract Details: Andersen, Young, Roberson
The specific figures on several of this summer's contracts continue to trickle in, so we'll keep passing along any notable details or changes related to those deals. Here's the latest:
- Chris Andersen will be getting the minimum salary in his deal with the Heat, according to Mark Deeks of ShamSports (Twitter link). Previous reports indicated he'd receive 120%, the most the Heat could give him via Non-Bird rights.
- Eric Pincus updated several team salary figures at HoopsWorld, including the Pacers, Clippers, Lakers, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Magic, 76ers, and Suns.
- Nick Young's deal with the Lakers includes a 15% trade kicker, tweets Pincus.
- According to Pincus, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Carmelo Anthony, and Kendrick Perkins all saw their cap hits for next season increase or decrease, based on having met or failed to meet incentives (all four Twitter links).
- While most of this year's first-round picks will sign for 120% of their rookie-scale amount, it appears Thunder first-rounder Andre Roberson signed for just 80% of his, tweets Pincus.
- It seems as if Dwight Buycks received a portion of the Raptors' mid-level exception rather than the minimum salary. Deeks tweets that he'll get a guaranteed $700K from Toronto. Buycks reportedly signed a multiyear deal, so it's not clear if his second-year salary exceeds the minimum or includes a guarantee.
Odds & Ends: Billups, Jennings, Bobcats, Pelicans
- The Bucks and Jennings' camp both see a sign-and-trade as ideal, but it seems he's more likely to ink his qualifying offer, writes Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Hoops Rumors readers see a signed QO as the most likely outcome.
- Bobcats coach Steve Clifford wants the team to carry six big men and add a third point guard, notes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. There are six bigs on the roster, but Jeff Adrien's deal is non-guaranteed.
- Charlotte's name change from the Bobcats to the Hornets is set to receive official NBA approval Thursday, Bonnell notes in a separate piece. The switch will occur next summer.
- The Pelicans' offseason is a "game-changer" for Eric Gordon, writes Sam Amick of USA Today, as the team's moves have helped sculpt an intriguing core that figures to entice the once-disgruntled shooting guard to stay.
- Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee spoke with Kings minority owner John Kehriotis, who's in a somewhat awkward situation after making a play at the majority interest in the team that went to new principal owner Vivek Ranadive.
- Kurt Rambis made comments on ESPN last fall that reportedly prompted Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni to cross him off his list of potential assistants, but it appears D'Antoni has changed his mind, as Rambis is set to join his staff, notes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. Johnny Davis will join him, along with fellow newcomers Mark Madsen and Larry Lewis.
- The Wizards will hire Frank Ross as director of player personnel, TNT's David Aldridge tweets. Ross has been serving as the Thunder's scouting director for the East Coast.
Bucks Sign Zaza Pachulia
JULY 17TH, 4:55pm: The Bucks have officially finalized their deal with Pachulia, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 6TH, 11:03pm: According to sources close to the situation, Marc Stein of ESPN.com writes that the Bucks and Pachulia verbally agreed to a three-year deal that will pay him $16MM. Pachulia will be re-united with his coach with the Hawks last season when he follows Larry Drew to the Bucks.
9:46pm: Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets that it's a three-year $15MM deal. ESPN.com's Chris Broussard tweets the same, as does NBA.com columnist David Aldridge (Twitter), but Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears says the deal is actually worth $15.6MM over three years (Twitter) while referencing that ESPN first reported the story (see below).
Gardner adds that Pachulia will be a good locker-room presence for the Bucks and provide nice addition of toughness inside to team with blossoming big man Larry Sanders (Twitter).
Pachulia is represented by Jim Connor of Williams & Connolly according to the Hoops Rumors Agency Database. Zaza averaged 5.9 PPG and 6.5 RPG in 21.8 MPG during a 2012/13 season that saw him appear in 52 games for the Hawks.
9:37pm: Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski tweets that league sources are telling him the deal is worth $15MM over three years.
9:33pm: Stein tweets that the Bucks have agreed to a three-year deal worth $16MM for Zaza Pachulia.
9:31pm: ESPN.com's Marc Stein says (Twitter) the Bucks are "pushing very hard" to get Hawks big man, Zaza Pachulia. They're reportedly offering in the $5MM a year range, Stein adds (Twitter).
Bucks Sign Carlos Delfino
JULY 17TH: The Bucks have officially signed Delfino, the team confirmed today (Twitter link).
JULY 7TH: The Bucks are set to sign Carlos Delfino to a two-year, $6.5MM deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The third year is a team option that could boost the total value of the pact to $10MM.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported earlier tonight that the two sides were nearing agreement on a contract. We recently heard that the Knicks were showing interest in Delfino as they seek out a solid wing defender who can also shoot it from beyond the arc. He also received interest from a club in China, but the interest wasn't mutual.
Delfino and teammate Aaron Brooks were informed in mid-June that they wouldn't be brought back as the club had to make way for D12. Had his non-guaranteed deal been honored, Delfino would have made $3MM in 2013/14. The soon-to-be 31-year-old averaged 10.6 PPG and 3.3 RPG in 25.2 minutes per game last season.
Delfino is a client of ASM Sports, according to the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.
Poll: Where Will Brandon Jennings Land?
Most of the big-name free agents have officially finalized new contracts or at least agreed to deals so far this July, with only a handful of notable unsigned players still on the market. Of those available free agents, Nikola Pekovic and Brandon Jennings may be the best options, and Pekovic appears to be a strong bet to return to Minnesota. However, it's not clear where Jennings will land.
Jennings is said to be seeking $12MM annually, but reportedly isn't interested in playing for the Bucks, which is unfortuante, since the team still has most of the leverage. As a restricted free agent, Jennings can't sign outright with another team. He'd have to ink an offer sheet, which the Bucks could match. That option is looking increasingly unlikely, since few, if any, potential suitors still have the cap space necessary to accommodate an offer sheet that Milwaukee would think twice about matching.
Jennings could decide to accept his one-year qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but that would only pay him about $4.53MM, and would mean another year in Milwaukee. Re-signing with the Bucks and pushing for a trade is one option. Signing overseas for a year is another, but that would mean he'd be a restricted free agent again next summer. A sign-and-trade looks like it could be the best option for both sides, but there aren't many ideal fits left for Jennings. A couple teams who could have been in the mix, the Mavericks and Hawks, opted instead to lock up Monta Ellis and Jeff Teague, respectively.
So how do you think Jennings' free agency plays out? What will he ultimately decide to do?
What will Brandon Jennings do?
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Accept the Bucks' one-year qualifying offer 44% (654)
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Join another team via sign-and-trade 42% (624)
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Play overseas 9% (129)
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Return to the Bucks on a long-term deal 5% (80)
Total votes: 1,487
Bucks Amnesty Drew Gooden
The Bucks have used their amnesty provision on Drew Gooden, the organization announced today via the team Twitter account. Gooden was rumored to be on the block for much of the winter, so it's no surprise that the Bucks amnestied the former Kansas star, who had two years and more than $13MM remaining on his contact.
Gooden signed a five-year, $32MM deal with Milwaukee before the 2010/11 season but appeared in only 16 games with the team last year, as the Bucks went young on the front line. He had arguably his best season as pro in Milwaukee in 2011/12, averaging 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in 26.2 minutes per game, which added up to a PER of 18.88.
Gooden, an 11-year veteran whose been traded five times, will now enter the amnesty waiver process, where teams with cap room can put in a claim for him over the next 48 hours. If no team bids, he will become an unrestricted free agent. According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, the move frees up $8-9MM of cap space for Milwaukee while keeping the cap hold for Brandon Jennings on the books (Twitter link). This assumes the Bucks don't re-sign Samuel Dalembert.
Central Notes: Bucks, Jennings, Pistons, Bulls
Brandon Jennings remains under team control for the Bucks, but the standout guard reportedly doesn't want to return to Milwaukee. Jennings has had an up-and-down relationship with the Bucks over the years and it would appear that he's not so high on the club as it stands. The 23-year-old is also said to be seeking a deal with a $12MM average annual value, but if he really wants to escape Milwaukee, he just might sign the $4.53MM qualifying offer so that he can be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Here's more on Jennings and other items out of the Central Division..
- The Pistons and Bucks haven't had any conversation about a sign-and-trade involving Jennings, according to Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
- Lionel Hollins said that he thought he was bound for the Bucks before the club decided to tap former Hawks head man Larry Drew, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
- Marquis Teague thinks Bulls Summer League teammate Andrew Goudelock deserves a a job on an NBA roster this season, but it remains to be seen if a GM will agree, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.