Odds & Ends: Casspi, Tolliver, Leonard, Blatche
According to Fox's John Telich, the Cavaliers may buy out Omri Casspi's contract. (Twitter link) FoxSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico tweets that there have been rumors regarding Casspi's want to play overseas.
Here's a rundown on some of the latest news and notes from around the NBA this weekend:
- According to Hoopshype.com, free agent forward Anthony Tolliver is receiving heavy attention from Greek's Panathinaikos.
- Paul Klee of IlliniHQ.com reports that the Trail Blazers may have been weary of eventual first round draft pick Meyers Leonard's health, performing health checks up until the day he was selected.
- Recent amnesty victim Andray Blatche says he doesn't care where he is next year, as long as he's playing basketball. And that includes the D-League, according to CBSSports.com's Ben Golliver.
- ESPNLA.com's Andy Kamenetzky takes a look at the Nuggets, and how they should stack up against the new look Lakers next season.
- According to ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley, the Knicks should seriously consider playing Carmelo Anthony at the power forward position more and more next season. The move would allow New York's best player to be more explosive offensively, and less of a liability on defense.
- Entering his 13th season in the NBA, Corey Maggette takes a moment to speak with HoopsWorld's Joel Brigham about his role in Detroit and his future plans for his career.
- Royce Young of Daily Thunder writes that the Thunder must now focus their attention on an extension for James Harden, having locked up Serge Ibaka yesterday.
- Sixers head coach Doug Collins talks about what new frontcourt acquisitions Andrew Bynum and Kwame Brown bring to the team.
- Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld has a list of remaining free agents who could be value signings, including Lou Amundson, Andray Blatche, Kenyon Martin, and D.J. White.
Zwerling On Andersen, Blatche, Amundson, White
Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork passed along news yesterday that Kenyon Martin isn't interested in signing for the minimum, and he's got more on a few power forwards today. Let's run down the highlights:
- Zwerling updates his story after hearing from Chris Andersen's high school coach, who told him the Birdman would love an opportunity with the Knicks, where he could reunite with former Nuggets teammates Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. Anderson is in talks with a few teams and will be ready come training camp after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee about a month ago, Zwerling adds.
Earlier updates:
- Chris Andersen is open to signing for the veteran's minimum, after the Nuggets used the amnesty clause to waive the Birdman last month, Zwerling hears. That means the Knicks, who are limited to handing out minimum-salary deals, could be in play, though there's no word that Andersen is interested in heading to New York, Zwerling writes. Andersen is a client of CAA, the agency that represents coach Mike Woodson and several Knicks players.
- A source close to Andray Blatche tells Zwerling that several teams are after the 6'11" free agent power forward. Blatche, like Andersen, was an amnesty casualty last month, when the Wizards let him go, and Zwerling says some "insiders" predict Blatche will sign a one-year deal with an up-and-coming team where he can be a starter, rehabilitate his image and command an eight-figure salary next summer. Blatche would likely have to make quite an impression this season to make that kind of money, however. Agent Andy Miller told Michael Lee of the Washington Post that teams have not yet made Blatche a significant offer this summer.
- Zwerling also hears Louis Amundson and D.J. White are in the market for mini mid-level deals that would be close to what they made last season. Amundson drew $2.763MM from the Pacers in 2011/12, while White cleared just over $2MM from the Bobcats.