Odds & Ends: Noah, Cavs, Pistons, Raptors
The U.S. squad for the 2012 Olympics has been hit hard by injuries, but Team USA isn't the only country that will see NBA players miss the London games. Already facing concerns over Tony Parker's health, France will be without Joakim Noah this summer, the Bulls big man told L'Equipe (French link). K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune confirms the news, noting that Noah will miss the Olympics to rest and rehab the ankle he sprained in the playoffs.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA on Independence Day….
Nine Assured Of Team USA Spot; Odom Withdraws
TUESDAY, 11:41am: Blake Griffin is expected to take Chris Bosh's spot on the U.S. roster, tweets Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com. As Goodman adds in a second tweet, that would leave five players competing for the final two spots.
Suns Rumors: Gordon, Dragic, Nash
The Suns have been notable in recent years for the way their training staff has perpetuated the careers of Steve Nash and Grant Hill. They may not have as many aging bodies to work with next season, though, as several other teams are chasing Nash, and Hill is drawing plenty of interest as well. When Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors previewed Phoenix's offseason in May, he said that if Nash leaves, the Suns might be best served by saving their ample cap space for the future and focusing on building through the draft for now. Still, the Suns appear to have significant free agent targets, including Eric Gordon and Goran Dragic, and there's more news on them tonight.
- The Suns are considering making a maximum four-year, $58MM offer to Gordon, Chris Broussard of ESPN.com tweets.
Earlier updates:
Atlantic Notes: Young, Teletovic, Allen, Gordon
Earlier this afternoon we learned that the Raptors have offered Steve Nash a three-year, $36MM deal. The aging point guard is also being courted by the division rival Nets, Knicks, as well as the Mavericks. Here's the latest out of the Atlantic..
Suns To Meet With Robin Lopez, Michael Beasley
With a good chunk of cap room expected to be available, the Suns are scheduling meetings with both their own free agents and other teams', according to the team's official Twitter feed. President Lon Babby, GM Lance Blanks, and coach Alvin Gentry are in Los Angeles to meet with unrestricted free agent Michael Beasley and Suns restricted FA Robin Lopez. Babby also said the team hopes to meet with Eric Gordon, Raymond Felton, and Goran Dragic later in the week.
Eric Gordon Rumors: Sunday
Eric Gordon is drawing interest from a number of teams, and at least one of them figures to sign him to the maximum-salary offer sheet he's seeking. The Hornets are expected to match any offer Gordon receives, so his suitors may just be jockeying for the right to tie up their cap for three days when the moratorium ends. Still, we're not entirely sure of New Orleans' intentions yet, so let's round up today's Gordon-related items right here:
Eric Gordon Seeking Four Years, $58MM
SUNDAY, 1:21am: The Hornets are prepared to match a maximum offer for Gordon, according to Sam Amick of SI.com (via Twitter). Four years and $58MM represents the max salary the 23-year-old could earn from rival teams.
SATURDAY, 11:12pm: Eric Gordon is seeking a four-year, $58MM deal in meetings with the Pacers, Rockets, Suns and Blazers, reports ESPN's Chris Broussard. The Hornets' restricted free agent is also considering sit-downs with the Bobcats and Mavericks (Twitter links).
Suns Targeting Eric Gordon
Although it's looking increasingly less likely that Steve Nash will be re-signing in Phoenix, the Suns are eyeing a number of potential targets to pursue using their expected cap space. Among those targets, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, is restricted free agent Eric Gordon. Coro says the Suns are preparing to make a "large offer" to Gordon, who could command in the neighborhood of $12MM annually.
Kennedy On Lin, Gordon, Mayo, Hibbert, Hill
We keep hearing teams like the Mavericks, Nets, and Raptors named as potential suitors for Steve Nash, but if one of those teams misses out on both Nash and Deron Williams, its next target could be Jeremy Lin. Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld hears from sources that one of those three clubs could sign Lin to an offer sheet, forcing the Knicks to match. Here are a few more free agent updates from Kennedy, with just over 12 hours left until the fun begins….
Odds & Ends: Rockets, Magic, Wolves, Green
With less than 24 hours to go until teams can officially begin negotiating with free agents, the focus has shifted from the draft and incoming rookies to where NBA veterans will end up. No free agent is more coveted than Deron Williams, but he's narrowed his choices to the Mavs and Nets. There are plenty of quality players left for other teams, however, including Roy Hibbert and Eric Gordon, whom the Rockets will target, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, adding that the team is also going after Omer Asik. Here's more on the free agent plans of teams around the league and other late-night news: