Free Agent Rumors: Mavs, Dragic, Orton, Blazers
Day 3 of NBA free agency is underway, and the July free agent period hasn't lacked for action so far. We'll use this space to track a number of updates on second- and third-tier free agents as the day continues. Here's the latest:
- The Warriors, Lakers, and Bobcats are all interested in Antawn Jamison, tweets Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc J. Spears.
- The Mavericks might clear cap space for next summer when Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are unrestricted free agents, tweets Yahoo! Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski.
- Ersan Ilyasova's agent has said his client is seriously considering a "big offer" from a European club, according to HoopsHype.com.
- The Timberwolves continued negotiation with Nicolas Batum, Greg Stiemsma, and Jordan Hill on Tuesday, but no deal was reached, writes TwinCities.com's Ray Richardson.
Earlier updates:
Free Agent Rumors: Lakers, Mavs, Cavs, Crawford
It's past midnight on the East Coast, and that means teams may negotiate with free agents from other clubs, as the NBA's offseason gets under way in earnest. Players can't officially sign contracts until July 11, and trades can't be made official until that date either. That doesn't mean there won't be plenty of talk and agreements in principle between now and then, and if this evening is any indication, we're in for a busy couple of weeks ahead. There are several bits of news rolling in on free agents as July begins, so we'll round up what we're hearing around the late-night rumor mill here.
- The Lakers are seeking a point guard in free agency, and in addition to reaching out to Ramon Sessions, they're also targeting veterans like Chauncey Billups, Jameer Nelson, and Kirk Hinrich, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
- In search of a center, the Mavericks have shown some interest in Hasheem Thabeet and Joel Przybilla, says Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com.
- The Cavaliers have expressed interest in Jonny Flynn, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. They're also eyeing Sonny Weems, according to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
Pacific Rumors: Lakers, Nash, Kings, Kirilenko
The major news of the day in the Pacific Division, and the league, for that matter, is the four-team trade that brings Lamar Odom back to the Clippers, his original NBA team. Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes about several key decision the Wolves have to make Saturday, many of which may be tied to the team's pursuit of Pau Gasol via trade with the Lakers. Richardson mentions that Michael Beasley has been working out in Los Angeles with former Laker Norm Nixon, who says his old team would "love" to sign Beasley. Nixon doesn't speak for the Lakers in an official capacity, of course, but it's just one more intriguing tidbit as Sunday's start to free agent negotiation's draws near. Here's more from the West Coast:
- Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic says it seems Steve Nash's days in Phoenix are over, as the Suns appear unwilling to come close to the $11.7MM he earned in 2011/12. Coro believes another team will give Nash an offer that approaches that figure.
Earlier updates:
Pacific Notes: Nash, Robinson, Kings, Williams
It appears 2012 will be yet another year without a Pacific Division title for the Clippers, who fell to the Suns last night to slip a half-game in the standings. While the Clippers are only a game behind the Lakers, the Lakers hold the tiebreaker, so with just three games left, the Clips look ticketed for a second-place finish in the Pacific. Still, as Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes, one more win would clinch the Clippers' best winning percentage in team history.
Here are a few more Friday morning notes out of the Pacific:
- TNT's David Aldridge told Arizona Sports 620 that he believes there's a good chance Steve Nash stays with the Suns next season. Vince Marotta of ArizonaSports.com has the details.
- Nate Robinson would like to re-sign with his Warriors but isn't getting his hopes up, says Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group.
- Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee has the latest details on why the Kings' owners rejected the Sacramento arena proposal.
- Terrence Williams has impressed in his late-season audition with the Kings, writes Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee. Williams, who was waived by the Rockets last month, will be a restricted free agent this summer if the Kings decide to extend him a $1.06MM qualifying offer.
Odds & Ends: Williams, Miller, Gordon, D-League
Wednesday afternoon links from around the Association:
- Terrence Williams reiterated a desire to re-sign with the Kings this offseason, telling Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld that coach Keith Smart is a major reason he's interested in staying in Sacramento.
- According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, Andre Miller has yet to give any serious thought to retirement: "I want to keep playing until my legs don’t work anymore," said the Nuggets point guard.
- Eric Gordon won't be the cornerstone of the Hornets' rebuilding efforts, but he'll be a key building block, writes Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
- Ken Berger of CBSSports.com lists the best executives available for teams searching for new management this summer.
- Justin Dentmon (MVP) and Greg Smith (Rookie of the Year) highlight Scott Schroeder's picks for the D-League's award winners at Ridiculous Upside. Both players are currently on NBA rosters — Dentmon with the Raptors, and Smith with the Rockets.
Williams Interested In Re-Signing With Kings
Since being drafted 11th overall by New Jersey in 2009, Terrence Williams has played for three different teams. Williams was traded to the Rockets by the Nets in 2011, then signed with the Kings this March after being waived by Houston. While the Louisville product has yet to find a permanent NBA home, his stint in Sacramento is off to a promising start.
Williams, coming off a Kings win in which he scored 12 points and grabbed 12 boards (his best rebounding game since 2009/10), told Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee he'd love to stay in Sacramento. The Kings signed the third-year swingman for the rest of this season, but Williams would listen if the team had interest in keeping him around longer than that.
"I'm a free agent July 1st," Williams said. "I'll take any calls from Sacramento. Hopefully we'll get something to work out. I love it here and I love playing here and I think I fit in well."
Having fallen well out of playoff contention, the Kings figure to give Williams plenty of minutes over the season's final few weeks to determine whether or not he's part of the team's future. For his part, Williams said he'd be open to either a one-year or multiyear deal. The Kings have about $42.5MM in guaranteed money committed to salaries for 2012/13, but have three restricted free agents they'll need to decide on, in Williams, Jason Thompson, and Donte Greene.
Kings Sign Terrence Williams For Season
2:14pm: The team has confirmed the move, Jones tweets.
8:13am: Terrence Williams says he has already signed the paperwork to stay with the Kings the rest of the season, tweets Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. Williams, 24, inked a ten-day contract with Sacramento on March 21.
The former 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft languished on the Rockets' bench this season and saw time in just twelve contests. Houston shopped Williams heavily in early March but wound up waiving him on March 16th. For his career, Williams has averaged 7.4 PPG and 3.8 RPG.
Pacific Notes: Smith, Sessions, Hickson, Kings
Jason Smith's flagrant foul on Blake Griffin last night didn't sit well with the Clippers and will almost certainly result in a suspension for the Hornets big man. However, ESPN.com's Marc Stein writes that the Clippers might owe Smith a thank you for his role in December's Chris Paul saga.
According to Stein, Smith rejected a sign-and-trade offer that would have made him part of the original three-way Paul trade between the Hornets, Rockets, and Lakers for salary purposes. While David Stern could have ultimately nixed the proposed Paul-to-the-Lakers deal regardless of Smith's involvement, the 26-year-old may have played a small part in Paul eventually heading to L.A.'s other team.
Here are a few more Friday odds and ends out of the Pacific Division:
- Some of Ramon Sessions' new teammates expect him to decline his 2012/13 player option, says Mike Breshanan of the Los Angeles Times. Sessions' agent Jared Karnes says no decision has been made yet, but that his client was excited to have joined the Lakers: "It's a great fit for Ramon and when it's appropriate, we'll discuss his future and make a decision."
- J.J. Hickson was dressed in Warriors gear, preparing to shoot around with the team, when he found out he'd been claimed off waivers by the Trail Blazers, writes Mike Tokito of The Oregonian.
- Kings coach Keith Smart discussed Terrence Williams' potential role with the team, and said the decision on when Tyreke Evans would return to the starting lineup is in Evans' hands. Matt Kawahara of the Sacramento Bee has the details.
Kings Sign Terrence Williams To 10-Day Contract
The Kings have officially signed Terrence Williams to a 10-day contract, the team announced today. Williams was waived by the Rockets last Friday.
Williams chose to sign in Sacramento because he prefers the opportunity to play rather than sit on a contender's bench, says J. Michael Falgoust of USA Today (via Twitter). Falgoust adds that Keith Smart's open-court style also appeals to the former lottery pick (Twitter link).
Williams, 24, was drafted by the Nets in 2009 and traded to the Rockets last season. In his three seasons, the former Louisville Cardinal has averaged 7.4 PPG and 3.9 RPG in 111 career games (20.1 MPG).
The Kings already had an open roster spot, and cleared another by buying out J.J. Hickson, so they won't need to make a move to clear room for Williams. SI.com's Sam Amick first tweeted that the Kings would sign the ex-Rocket.
Rockets Waive Terrence Williams
The Rockets have waived Terrence Williams, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
Williams, 24, had only appeared in three games since the start of February, and played just 23 total games for the Rockets after being acquired at last year's trade deadline. The former 11th overall pick averaged 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game this season.
The former Louisville Cardinal was the only one of Houston's four 2009 draft-lottery players that wasn't shipped out in a trade yesterday — Jordan Hill was sent to the Lakers, while Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet headed to Portland.