NBA free agency: Latest rumors, buzz
With NBA free agency under way, the rumor mill is churning at high speed. Which teams are looking to swing deals? Which free agents are eyeing new teams? Here are the latest news and reports:
1 a.m. ET
Blazers, Kaman agree to two-year deal
Lakers set to offer Carmelo Anthony a max contract
Thunder, Bulls look like favorites to land Gasol
Melo tried to obtain Gasol's phone number to discuss playing together in New York. Yahoo Sports: “Hours before his final meeting with New York Knicks officials, free agent Carmelo Anthony reached out to obtain free agent Pau Gasol's phone number and discuss with him the possibility of playing together at Madison Square Garden, league sources told Yahoo Sports.”
Wizards have contacted Butler, among others. Washington Post. “The Wizards have quietly worked behind the scenes and reached out to several potential replacements, including the last small forward to reach all-star status with the franchise: Caron Butler. A person close to Butler confirmed Thursday that Washington expressed interest in the veteran swingman.”
Nets not talking sign-and-trade for Pierce with Clippers.
Gasol seeking around $10 million per year, has not ruled out midlevel exception deal. Yahoo Sports: “Gasol, 33, has been searching for a contract in the $10 million annual range, but hasn't ruled out the possibility of taking a deal in the midlevel exception range of $5.3 million annually, sources said.”
Van Gundy: Monroe has not said he doesn't want to play with Josh Smith. USA Today: "Greg's never said anything to us about not wanting to play with Josh," Van Gundy said in a Thursday afternoon phone call from Orlando, where he is for summer league play.”
No decision soon from free agent forward Gasol
Warriors announce coaching staff. NBA.com: “The Golden State Warriors have hired a pair of longtime NBA coaches and a recently retired NBA veteran to join Head Coach Steve Kerr on the bench, naming Alvin Gentry as associate head coach, along with Ron Adams and Luke Walton as assistant coaches, the team announced today. Additionally, the team has hired former NBA center Jarron Collins and former coach/scout Bruce Fraser as player development coaches. Per team policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.”
Point guard Thomas' list of preferred teams in order
Miami, Houston, Chicago among teams that have expressed interest in Shawn Marion. ESPN: “The Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls and a few other teams join the Dallas Mavericks among those who have expressed interest in Marion, a source said.”
Pau Gasol to meet with Heat
LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, met with at least four teams in Cleveland this week.
Houston Rockets not granted meeting with James, to continue pursuit of Carmelo Anthony. Yahoo Sports: “Phoenix met on Wednesday and Cavaliers officials met on Thursday with Paul. Houston Rockets officials spoke with Paul by phone, but were not granted a meeting and have moved on with their pursuit of Carmelo Anthony, sources told Yahoo Sports.”
Financial disconnect among Wade, Bosh and James. Yahoo Sports. “James has maintained a desire to take a full max contract with a starting salary of $20.7 million, sources said. Wade and Bosh are still reluctant to take severe cuts in their contracts, sources told Yahoo Sports, creating a financial disconnect among the three.”
Official: communication breakdown between Wade, Bosh and James
LeBron's agent to owners, executive: failure of Heat to quickly bring in strong supporting cast could result in James meeting with teams. Yahoo Sports: “After conducting meetings with three NBA teams interested in pursuing free-agent star LeBron James, his agent suggested to owners and executives present that a failure of Miami president Pat Riley to rapidly recruit a strong supporting cast could bring finalists back to meet with James himself next week, league sources told Yahoo Sports.”
6 p.m. ET
Melo interested in discussing potential partnership with Gasol in New York
Heat reached out to Marvin Williams
Jazz not concerned about giving Hayward big contract
Heat, Thunder pursuing Morrow
Mavericks targeting Parsons, Deng. ESPN: “Sources say that the Mavericks intend to extend a lucrative offer sheet to Houston Rockets free agent Chandler Parsons or try to sign Cleveland Cavaliers free agent Luol Deng if Anthony, as expected, elects to re-sign with the New York Knicks.”
Jazz showing interest in guard Kent Bazemore
Heat have strong interest in Ariza, Deng. Bleacher Report: “The Heat were interested in both Jodie Meeks and Avery Bradley, but not at the $6.3 million and $8 million annual rates that they received, from Detroit and Boston, respectively. They remain extremely interested in Trevor Ariza and Luol Deng, but sources say that both players need to be convinced to come close to their range; Deng made $14.3 million last season, and Ariza's camp has made it clear he's looking for something well north of $8 million annually. And now that Meeks and Bradley, less accomplished players, got what they got, why would Deng bend enough to take less than they did to play in Miami?”
Deng intrigued with possibility of sign-and-trade to Clippers
Rambis will become Knicks' assistant
Lakers GM reached out to Steve Blake's camp
Report: Caron Butler Likely to pick Heat, Lakers or Spurs
Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki reached an agreement on the framework of a three-year deal
3:30 p.m. ET
Kings to waive, use stretch provision on player to make room for Collison
Pistons expressing strong interest in Isaiah Thomas
Thabo Sefolosha agrees to three-year deal with Atlanta
Knicks rejecting sign-and-trade proposals from Bulls for Melo. Chicago Sun-Times. “In recruiting Anthony, the Bulls hoped the Knicks would be interested in a sign-and-trade for Boozer’s expiring contract, but they have been rebuffed several times. The Bulls are assuming they’ll have to acquire Anthony as a free agent, and they felt good about their position after meeting with him Tuesday in Chicago.”
Wizards optimistic they'll re-sign Ariza
Luol Deng to meet with several teams next week
Clippers have talked to Jordan Farmar, 3-4 teams interested
Uncertainty surrounding when Melo will make decision
11:30 a.m. ET
Point guard Collison agrees to three-year deal with Kings.
Clippers shopping Jared Dudley, Matt Barnes
Multiple teams showing interest in Nick Young. ESPN. “Nick Young heard from Atlanta along with the Lakers, as well as "several other teams registering interest," according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein.”
Knicks offer Rambis top assistant job. New York Post. “The Knicks have made Lakers coaching candidate Kurt Rambis a four-year offer of roughly $1.2 million per year to be rookie coach Derek Fisher’s top assistant, according to an NBA source.”
Indiana reached out to Phoenix about potential Goran Dragic trade
Report: Magic pursuing forward Patrick Patterson
Bulls floated $16 million per year salary for four seasons to Melo. New York Post. “With the Melopalooza set to hit Los Angeles on Friday, the Bulls’ position appears to be weakening. According to an NBA source, the Bulls, during Tuesday’s meetings, floated the idea of Anthony making about $16 million per year across four seasons — a sum that is not going to move the needle away from Anthony’s pre-trip gut feeling to stick with the Knicks.”
Clippers optimistic in talks with forward Ed Davis
Report: Croatian buyout is obstacle preventing Nurkic from joining Nuggets
Report: Steve Blake would love to play for Portland. Comcast SportsNet Northwest. “Blake, 34, is no stranger to the city of Portland. He played three and a half seasons with the team and loved his experience so much that he purchased a home in Portland where his family resides in the offseason. We’re told by one of the sources that Blake “would love to come back to Portland to play for the Trail Blazers.””
Pacers trying to arrange multi-team deal for Rondo?
Thunder reach agreement with guard Sebastian Telfair. Comcast SportsNet Northwest.“The free agent point guard and Oklahoma City Thunder have reached an agreement, league sources informed CSNNW.com.”
Clippers in talks with Nets on sign-and-trade for Pierce. ESPN: “The Los Angeles Clippers have engaged in conversations with the Brooklyn Nets to try to construct a sign-and-trade that would reunite small forward Paul Pierce with Doc Rivers, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.”
Report: Bulls told Boozer he could be amnestied, used in sign-and-trade.
Raptors, Lowry reach agreement on four-year, $48 million deal
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook pitch Gasol on OKC
Clippers' guard Jamal Crawford part of sign-and-trade discussions, wants contract extension next summer. Yahoo Sports: “As the Los Angeles Clippers propose guard Jamal Crawford in possible trade scenarios, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year has a message for the Clippers and potential future teams: Wherever Crawford's playing, he wants a contract extension next summer.”
Hawks strongly pursuing guard Kent Bazemore
Report: Rookie forward Julius Randle does not need foot surgery
Cleveland reluctant to offer Gordon Hayward offer sheet, believe Jazz will match
Report: If Mavericks miss out on Melo, plan to move on to Parsons, Deng
Grizzlies unlikely to retain Miller unless offer is enhanced. CBSSports. "Unrestricted free agent Mike Miller is likely to settle on a contract in the next 24 to 48 hours but probably won't re-sign with Memphis unless the Grizzlies' offer is enhanced soon, a source told CBSSports.com on Wednesday night."
Bulls' interest in Gasol reflection of concern Melo won't leave New York
-- Compiled by SI.com's Chris Johnson