OFFICIAL NBA SUMMER PLAYER MOVEMENT thread

[cranrab]

since $ was not an issue, i wonder why he wouldn't jump at the chance to play alongside the "greatest player in the game"? LOL!

Agent says Hill will sign with Suns
/ FOXSports.com
Posted: 2 hours ago

The Suns have found themselves another veteran.
Grant Hill informed Phoenix on Thursday that he would sign with the team for next season, his agent, Lon Babby, told the Arizona Republic.

Hill was offered the Suns' biennial exception, according to the report, meaning he will earn $1.83 million next year with a player option to return in 2008-09.

Money clearly wasn't the driving factor for Hill, who is coming off a seven-year, $92 million contract with the Orlando Magic.

"He established a number of criteria," Babby told the Republic. "His opportunity to contribute to a championship would be on the top of the list. He really thought it through and was diligent and concluded this is the best opportunity for his career. He's very, very excited about it."

Detroit, Orlando, San Antonio, Miami and Dallas were among the suitors for Hill, who was interested most in the chance to play for a championship-caliber team.

"The opportunity described to him is consistent with what he's looking for," Babby told the Republic. "He's not someone looking for anything granted to him but more that he'd have the opportunity to start."

Injuries have always been a concern for the 34-year-old Hill, but he is coming off one of his healtheir seasons, playing in 65 games last season for the Magic.

"His health is fine," Babby said. "There is every expectation that he will be healthy."

Babby said Phoenix didn't promise Hill a starting job, and he wasn't looking for one.

"I think all he was seeking was the opportunity to start," Babby said. "It was the same promise that was made to him when he went to Duke. Nobody guarantees you anything and he wasn't asking for guarantees."

The Magic knew Hill had an ankle injury when they traded Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins for him in 2000, but never expected it would take so long to heal. Hill appeared in just four games his first year with the Magic, 14 the next year and 29 the year after that. He missed the entire 2003-04 season.

Hill finally got on track in 2004-05, averaging almost 20 points and looking like the all-purpose player Orlando thought it was getting. Even then he couldn't stay off the injury list, missing 15 games with wrist and shin problems.

In 2005-06, it was a sports hernia and lower abdominal injuries for another 61 missed games.

Some fans wrote the 6-foot-8 star off as a pricey bench fixture, but others found Hill hard to dislike. He is widely considered one of pro basketball's nicest guys, and twice led the league in All-Star balloting (1995 and '96).

Hill proved again this season he could still play. The former Duke star averaged 15 points as Orlando was swept in the first-round by his former team, the Pistons, and just under that during the regular season. He was the Magic's best option driving the bucket, and at times seemed the only one playing with energy despite his age.

But Hill again missed 17 regular-season games this season with a knee sprain and other minor injuries.

For his career, Hill averages 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Despite all his success, he has never made it out of the first round of the NBA playoffs.

 

[xfactor]

I'm sure cranrab is happy about this -

Kareem Rush signs with Pacers

Kareem Rush’s shooting skills in the Lithuanian league have earned him another shot in the NBA.

The former Pembroke Hill and Missouri star signed with the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Terms were not announced.

Rush was the Baltic League Final Four MVP last season. He was Toronto’s first-round draft pick in 2002, but the Raptors traded him to the Lakers. Rush also has played for Charlotte and Seattle. He is a career 35 percent three-point shooter in four NBA seasons.

“He’s a great shooter,” Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. “We think he’s at the perfect stage in his career to make a step forward. He’s got a chance to be a very good player.”

Rush, a 6-foot-6 guard, helped the Lakers reach the NBA finals in 2003-04. He averaged a career-best 10.1 points per game for Charlotte in 2005-06 and scored a career-high 35 points against the Pacers on Nov. 16, 2005.

Walsh wouldn’t promise that Rush would make the team.

“He certainly showed our coaches and management on our team that he can play,” Walsh said. “He’s got a very good chance to make the team.”

The Pacers on Tuesday also signed Stephen Graham and Andre Owens. All three will participate in the team’s rookie-free-agent camp starting Thursday.

Owens is a former Indiana prep star who played one season at Indiana before transferring to Houston. Owens, a 6-foot-4 guard, played last season with Anaheim in the D-League, averaging 16.6 points.

Graham, who played for Oklahoma State, is a 6-6 forward who has been with Portland, Cleveland, Chicago and Houston. Last season, he averaged 18 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and was a D-League All-Star.

 

[cranrab]

i've always felt the kid could play. he was doomed when he got into the dog house @ charlotte for having a "i don't give a F" attitude. supposedly.

i hope he makes it. in the meantime, here is the player charlotte has replaced him with:

Bobcats come to terms with Carroll
/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 day ago

Guard Matt Carroll and the Charlotte Bobcats came to terms on a six-year, $27 million contract.
Agent Paul Nadel, a partner with Fegan and Associates, said Wednesday that Carroll is expected to sign the deal next week when he returns from a trip to China.

Carroll, signed by Charlotte out of the NBA's developmental league midway through the 2004-05 season, quickly became a key contributor. A 3-point specialist, he averaged nine points in 25 games to close that season, then 7.6 points the following year.

Last season, Carroll averaged a career-high 12.1 points and shot 42 percent from 3-point range, moving into the starting lineup late in the season.

"I'm very excited about Matt being back in the fold," Bobcats coach Sam Vincent said. "The guys who are part of this thing last year and have gotten us to this point are special to this organization. The more of those guys that we can keep around, that's what we're trying to do."

Carroll, who was undrafted out of Notre Dame, was cut by New York, Portland, San Antonio and Golden State early in his career. But his game blossomed while playing for Roanoke in the NBDL. He averaged more than 20 points a game before he was signed by Charlotte.

Due to his humble beginnings, Carroll said late last season that he wanted the security of a long-term deal. Carroll received some interest from other teams, but the Bobcats were the only team that could have offered him a six-year contract, the maximum length allowed under the collective bargaining agreement.

"He's very excited. This is where he wanted to be," Nadel said.

The 6-foot-6 Carroll will face more competition for playing time next season after the Bobcats acquired fellow shooting guard Jason Richardson in a draft night trade. But part-owner Michael Jordan had said they wanted to retain Carroll to keep depth at the position.

"He's a pure shooter," Bobcats guard Raymond Felton said. "He can put the ball on the floor. He can shoot the ball well. I love that he's coming back."

The Bobcats also said Wednesday that they had signed first-round pick Jared Dudley to his rookie contract. Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement's rookie scale, Dudley will receive $947,500 next season and $1.018 million in the second year. The Bobcats hold team options for a third and fourth year.

Dudley, the 22nd pick in the draft, averaged 19 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior at Boston College last season and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year. At 6-foot-7 and 219 pounds, the Bobcats plan to use Dudley at both small forward and power forward.

The Bobcats' major offseason concern remains unsettled. Forward Gerald Wallace, the team's top scorer last season, remains unsigned. Vice president of basketball operations Bernie Bickerstaff and Wallace's agent, Rob Pelinka, have been in talks since early Sunday.

Wallace has received inquiries from at least seven other teams, but Vincent is confident they'll keep him.

"I feel great about Gerald," Vincent said. "I shouldn't say I'm expecting it to happen soon, I'm hoping it happens soon. But I feel good about it."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Most Likely L.A. But NY/NJ Would Be Ideal For Fisher
July 6, 2007 - 12:05 pm
Deseret News -
Before deciding where Derek Fisher will play, agent Mark Bartelstein said Fisher will continue to focus foremost on determining precisely where his daughter Tatum can receive the best care.

"People are making it seem like this is about money," Bartelstein said Thursday, "but just the exact opposite is true.

"We haven't talked about money with anybody," the Chicago-based agent added. "I was asked by a reporter in Los Angeles what I thought Derek was worth, and my answer was 'worth a lot more than the midlevel,' because he just walked away from that. But we haven't asked for anything from anybody. His interest right now is finding the right place for his daughter, and then we'll go from there."

Fisher, who would have made $6.37 million next season, could perhaps find a team willing to pay midlevel-exception money, which is a multiyear contract beginning at about $5.8 million in 2007-08.

According to The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, unidentified sources have "said Fisher, among other teams, would consider the (Cleveland Cavaliers ) because of the highly regarded Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center."

The Memphis Grizzlies are "interested" and "will explore the possibility of adding" Fisher, a native of nearby Little Rock, Ark., The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported. At the renowned St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, a posting on the facility's Web site says scientists and physicians there "work in tandem to translate laboratory discoveries into cures for retinoblastoma."

"I also hear that Miami is a possible destination for Derek Fisher, though he'll most likely be a Laker next year," blogged Ivan Carter, the Washington Post's Washington Wizards beat writer.

It appears Fisher ideally would want to live and work in New York, where since May his twin daughter has received cutting-edge treatment through The Retinoblastoma Program of the Ophthalmic Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.

Earlier this week there, Tatum underwent what Bartelstein said the Fisher family hopes to be the final chemotherapy treatment she will need.

"It went well," the agent said.

Meanwhile, the Newark Star-Ledger reported Bartelstein spoke this week with Knicks assistant general manager Glen Grunwald. "Obviously, Derek would have a lot of interest in New York," Bartelstein told the newspaper. The Star-Ledger, though, called the possibility of Fisher actually signing with New York "probably a bit remote," since the Knicks "have 17 players on the roster and are stocked at guard."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Nocioni Agrees To Terms With Chicago
July 6, 2007 - 2:22 pm
Chicago Tribune -
Andres Nocioni has agreed to a five-year contract worth approximately $38 million, keeping the popular forward with the team that vowed to re-sign him.

The contract can't be signed until the free-agent moratorium ends July 11. But general manager John Paxson confirmed a deal is in place.

Sources told the Tribune that the contract includes a team option for a sixth season.

Earlier Friday, Paxson confirmed that the team was optimistic about their chances

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

...OK, seriously this time.

Billups And Pistons Agree On Deal
July 6, 2007 - 6:57 pm
Ric Bucher/ESPN -
After some miscommunication, Chauncey Billups and the Detroit Pistons have come to an agreement.

ESPN's Ric Bucher reports sources say that Billups has now agreed to multi-year deal with the Pistons, but terms and length of the deal are unknown at this time.

On Wednesday, Billups' agent, Andy Miller, refuted a reports that his client had agreed to a contract that could be five years and worth $60 million.

"This is a vicious rumor," Miller told The Detroit Free Press. "It's entirely untrue. We have not reached an agreement. I don't know what stage we're at. We're having ongoing discussions, and I don't believe that we're on the verge of signing an agreement anytime today by any stretch of the imagination."

On Tuesday, The Associated Press and some Detroit-area media outlets had reported that Billups and the Pistons had agreed to a five-year contract. According to the Associated Press, its source, who requested anonymity because of league rules preventing contract announcements before July 11, said the deal is worth $46 million guaranteed over four years and the fifth year is a team option.

 

[cranrab]

Devean George remains with Mavs
/ Associated Press
Posted: 4 hours ago

After opting out of his contract and looking for a better deal elsewhere, swingman Devean George is coming back to the Dallas Mavericks.
George has agreed to a roughly $2.4 million, one-year deal that keeps him as a reserve on one of the NBA's top teams and puts him in position for a bigger payday next summer, agent Mark Bartelstein said Monday.

George would've made around $2 million under the deal he signed last summer, but opted out of it last month. Bartelstein spoke with several teams, only to find that the best combination of salary and championship potential came from Dallas.

Part of the lure was that after this season the Mavs will hold George's "Bird rights," which means they can sign him again for a larger salary without certain salary cap implications.

"His goal was to come back," Bartelstein said. "But you want to take a look around and make sure you're not bypassing something that really was significant. It would've taken something major to take him out of Dallas."

The deal can't be finalized before Wednesday, and team officials can't comment before then. However, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said recently that the club was committed to bringing back its key players - as demonstrated by the re-signing of Jerry Stackhouse late last week.

George and Stackhouse were part of a strong bench that helped the Mavericks win 67 games, fifth-best in league history, before a stunning first-round playoff loss to Golden State.

George, who turns 30 next month, averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds last season. He played 60 games, starting 17, and averaged 21.4 minutes. Coach Avery Johnson likes having him as a defensive ace, especially against perimeter players. George played his first seven years with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning three titles and reaching the finals a fourth time.

Bartelstein said the early playoff exit with Dallas didn't discourage George. If anything, it made him want to return.

"He was disappointed because he was hurt, he wasn't himself in the playoffs," Bartelstein said, citing a late-season knee injury. "He wants to contribute more to help the team get to the (championship) level."

 

[cranrab]

Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Francis reportedly to become free agent

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services

The Knicks were happy to get Zach Randolph. The Trail Blazers were happy to clear space for Greg Oden. Steve Francis might be the happiest of all.


Francis


Multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday night that the Blazers had agreed to buy out Francis' contract -- for almost the full amount.

Portland sent Randolph, along with Fred Jones and Dan Dickau, to the Knicks for Francis and Channing Frye in a draft night trade on June 28. Almost immediately word surfaced that the Blazers would try to buy out Francis' deal.

The Washington Post and Newsday reported on Tuesday that Portland will pay more than $30 million of the $33.6 million that the former All-Star guard is due.

"This was the definition of a win-win situation with Isiah and the Knicks getting Zach Randolph and Steve being the ultimate beneficiary in being bought out," Francis' agent Jeff Fried said on Tuesday, according to Newsday.

According to the paper, Francis will go on the waiver wire at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday. Another team could claim him, but that franchise would be responsible for his contract. Most likely, Francis will become an unrestricted free agent in seven days.

The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers have been rumored to be interested in signing Francis. The guard's longtime friend and former Rockets teammate Cuttino Mobley plays for the Clippers.

According to the Post, Fried said that the buyout allows his client to find the "right fit as opposed to the most money. He doesn't need much to be made whole."

Francis averaged a career-low 11.3 points per game last year, his first full season in New York. He has career averages of 18.4 points and 6.1 assists per game. Francis made the All-Star Game from 2002-04 while with Houston.

 

[cranrab]

There's no rush into free-agent market by Lakers
They have yet to decide what to do with their mid-level exception. Signing Fisher remains a strong possibility.
By Mike Bresnahan
Times Staff Writer

July 11, 2007

The free-agent moratorium was lifted Tuesday at 9:01 p.m., and the Lakers were still looking for the right player at the right price.

Like a majority of teams in the league, the Lakers still have their entire mid-level exception at their dispersal — $5.36 million toward next season — although they are spending it more slowly than last summer's immediate push to sign Vladimir Radmanovic as soon as the free-agent period began.

Derek Fisher, who turns 33 next month, remains a strong possibility, although his age probably prevents him from receiving more than a three-year contract for about $18 million, a league source said.

Last weekend, Fisher switched agents from Mark Bartelstein to Rob Pelinka, who also represents Kobe Bryant.

Fisher was a confidant of Bryant when the two played together for eight seasons with the Lakers.

Fisher recently left behind almost $21 million in guaranteed money with the Utah Jazz to become a free agent.

Another possibility for the Lakers is point guard Steve Blake, who is seeking a five-year deal worth $31.4 million, the maximum numbers allowed under mid-level exception rules.

The end of the moratorium meant that teams could officially sign free agents after being allowed only to agree to terms with them when the free-agency period began June 30. The Lakers had agreed to terms with forward Luke Walton on a six-year, $30-million contract that can now be formally announced.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The NBA announced a salary cap of $55.63 million for the 2007-08 season, an increase from last season's salary cap of $53.14 million.

The luxury tax for 2007-08 kicks in at $67.865 million, an increase from last season's tax threshold of $65.42 million. A dollar-for-dollar penalty will be assessed each team that goes over the threshold.

After signing Walton and rookie Javaris Crittenton, the Lakers have 12 players under contract for next season for a total of about $64 million. If the Lakers spend their entire mid-level exception for next season, they will be over the luxury-tax threshold by $1.5 million.

 

[xfactor]

I'm happy for the bruh getting paid but the only thing that is going to be a hit in Orlando is Rick DeVos's pockets for 6 years.

Sign-and-trade with Orlando done

The Sonics have agreed to sign forward Rashard Lewis to a six-year contract worth the NBA maximum and then send him to the Orlando Magic for a conditional second-round pick and a trade exception worth between $9 million and $9.5 million, the PI has learned.

Lewis will sign a six-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $117 million and then begin a new career with the Orlando Magic. The Sonics do get something in compensation rather than letting Lewis walk for nothing. The trade exception allows the Sonics to take back $9 million to $9.5 million more in salary in a transaction without counting against the salary cap.

Or the Sonics could trade a draft pick for a veteran player who makes $8 million, for example, without having to send the other club a player to match salaries. In other words, the Sonics can now go after a veteran player to enhance their roster with more flexibility than if Lewis left as a free agent with no sign-and-trade. The Sonics have one year to use this exception.

The Sonics cannot use it to sign a free agent; it has to come via a trade. Lewis is set to make more than $16 million in the first year of his contract, but the trade exception is not for that much because Lewis is considered Base Year Compensation player. That means that Lewis' cap value is lower than his actual contract because he received more than a 20 percent salary raise from the Magic.

That prevents teams from signing their own player to a bigger contract just to trade him for a player with an equal contract and circumventing the salary cap. Let's say, the Sonics wanted to acquire a $15 million-per-year player and had only a $10 million-per-player to give. The Base Year Compensation prevents the Sonics from signing that player to a $15 million-per-season deal and then trading him to match salaries.

The sign-and-trade ensures that Lewis will receive in the neighborhood of $24 million in the sixth year of his deal and the Sonics get salary cap relief. Apparently, other clubs were promising to execute a sign-and-trade with the Sonics for a sixth year if the Magic didn't, pressuring Orlando GM Otis Smith to shell out the extra $24 million.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Francis reportedly to become free agent

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services

The Knicks were happy to get Zach Randolph. The Trail Blazers were happy to clear space for Greg Oden. Steve Francis might be the happiest of all.


Francis


Multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday night that the Blazers had agreed to buy out Francis' contract -- for almost the full amount.

Portland sent Randolph, along with Fred Jones and Dan Dickau, to the Knicks for Francis and Channing Frye in a draft night trade on June 28. Almost immediately word surfaced that the Blazers would try to buy out Francis' deal.

The Washington Post and Newsday reported on Tuesday that Portland will pay more than $30 million of the $33.6 million that the former All-Star guard is due.

"This was the definition of a win-win situation with Isiah and the Knicks getting Zach Randolph and Steve being the ultimate beneficiary in being bought out," Francis' agent Jeff Fried said on Tuesday, according to Newsday.

According to the paper, Francis will go on the waiver wire at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday. Another team could claim him, but that franchise would be responsible for his contract. Most likely, Francis will become an unrestricted free agent in seven days.

The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers have been rumored to be interested in signing Francis. The guard's longtime friend and former Rockets teammate Cuttino Mobley plays for the Clippers.

According to the Post, Fried said that the buyout allows his client to find the "right fit as opposed to the most money. He doesn't need much to be made whole."

Francis averaged a career-low 11.3 points per game last year, his first full season in New York. He has career averages of 18.4 points and 6.1 assists per game. Francis made the All-Star Game from 2002-04 while with Houston.

I'm intrigued about this because there are several teams that could use him. He would be a steal if healthy.

The prime targets I hear are the Clippers and Lakers...with a dark horse being Cleveland and Miami.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Billups Signs $60 Million Deal With Detroit
July 11, 2007 - 1:18 pm
Rocky Mountain News -
Chauncey Billups signed a $60 million, five-year contract today with the Detroit Pistons , returning to the team he helped reach five straight conference finals.

The contract is worth $46 million guaranteed over four years and includes a team option for the fifth year.

Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said he was "very pleased" to have Billups back.

"We said from the beginning that resigning Chauncey was our top priority, and now we can move forward knowing that Chauncey will continue to lead this team," Dumars told The Associated Press on Wednesday afternoon. "One of the toughest positions to fill in this business is the point guard position, and that's why it was imperative that we re-sign Chauncey."

 

[cranrab]

I'm happy for the bruh getting paid but the only thing that is going to be a hit in Orlando is Rick DeVos's pockets for 6 years.

orlando got fleeced. but then, they are the club that wanted darko milicic.

it's NO way rashard lewis is worth TWICE what gerald wallace got. NO way.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Report: Bobcats keep top scorer Wallace with $57M deal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services

Gerald Wallace, the Bobcats' top scorer from last season, is reportedly returning to join Jason Richardson in the new-look Charlotte attack.

The Charlotte Observer, citing an anonymous source, is reporting that Wallace and the Bobcats have agreed to a six-year, $57 million contract. The sixth year of the deal will be Wallace's option and he can earn as much as $2 million each season in bonuses.

The Bobcats had stiff competition to keep Wallace. Seven other teams contacted the free agent forward when the NBA free agency period began. Dallas, Orlando, Milwaukee, Detroit, Miami, Portland and Golden State all made inquiries.

Wallace averaged 18.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season, when he made just over $5.5 million. He opted out of the final year of his contract, which would have paid him about $6 million, to become an unrestricted free agent. Wallace was expected to command more than $10 million a season in a deal that could run as long as six years.


The Bobcats took on the first big contract in their three-year history when they acquired swingman Richardson from Golden State in a draft-night trade. Richardson, who the Bobcats hope will be the go-to scorer they've been missing, is due about $51 million over the next four seasons.


The Bobcats believe a nucleus of Richardson, Wallace, power forward Emeka Okafor and point guard Raymond Felton will get them to the playoffs next season.

Wallace, who left Alabama after one season, spent his first three years in the NBA at the end of Sacramento's bench.


But the Bobcats selected the 6-foot-7 slasher in the 2004 expansion draft, and he quickly blossomed.

 

[B-Witty]

I'm intrigued about this because there are several teams that could use him. He would be a steal if healthy.

The prime targets I hear are the Clippers and Lakers...with a dark horse being Cleveland and Miami.

dawg hate to break it 2 u.. but im a clip fan and we are going to sign francis..... he will be our starting point guard teaming back up with Tino just like old times.....

sigh, lifes gr8...

 

[B-Witty]

I'm intrigued about this because there are several teams that could use him. He would be a steal if healthy.

The prime targets I hear are the Clippers and Lakers...with a dark horse being Cleveland and Miami.

dawg hate to break it 2 u.. but im a clip fan and we are going to sign francis..... he will be our starting point guard teaming back up with Tino just like old times..... i called this out about 8 months ago people thought i was swelling.. but shit... i can almost hear stuart scott espn showing the clip 2 morrow... :"steve francis is a Clipper"

sigh, lifes gr8...

 

[xfactor]

orlando got fleeced. but then, they are the club that wanted darko milicic.

it's NO way rashard lewis is worth TWICE what gerald wallace got. NO way.

I dont know why teams held Lewis in such high regard. The prep to pro players (other than LeBron James) have proven they dont have what it takes to lead teams to the Finals so why are these owners and GMs continuing to break bank?

$120 million is a lot for someone that cant give you 20-10.

Gerald Wallace's deal seems like he took LESS money than he should have compared to Lewis but you'd think a guy would do that when he is signing ti a contender, a la the rumor regarding Maurice Williams and Miami.

 

[cranrab]

memphis is turning into toronto-south.

LOL @ dude on BGOL that said pau gasol is a C. wonder what he thinks now?

Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Milicic, Grizzlies agree on three-year deal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider

Free-agent center Darko Milicic agreed in principle to a three-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, the player's agent Marc Cornstein told ESPN.com Cornstein refused to disclose the amount of the deal, but the starting salary is believed to be for substantially more than the $5.3 million mid-level exception.

ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher, citing anonymous sources, is reporting that the deal is for three years and $21 million. A formal team announcement could take place as early as Thursday.

"We are extremely excited for this new opportunity," Cornstein said. "Darko's going to a team that really wants him. He's going to a young team with an exciting bright future much like his own. We're very excited Darko gets to learn from coach Marc Iavaroni. We believe he's one of the best big men coaches in the game. And we couldn't be happier that he has found a new home where he's appreciated."

Milicic was recently waived by the Orlando Magic to clear the cap room necessary to sign Rashard Lewis.

"Memphis has really pursued Darko since the moment he became an unrestricted free agent last week," Cornstein said. "And I'm grateful for the opportunity they'll be providing for Darko at this stage of his career."

Milicic was the second pick in the 2003 NBA draft. He was taken ahead of All-Stars like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade and was widely regarded as a draft bust heading into his third season.

Milicic was traded to the Magic in February of 2006 and began to turn around his career. He averaged eight points and 5.5 rebounds in 23 minutes per game for the Magic last season. But he upped his average to 12.3 points per game in the playoffs this year.

Magic general manager Otis Smith said that the team's top priority in the offseason was signing Milicic, but he reversed course after it became clear that signing Lewis would take all of their cap room.

Milicic should address the Grizzlies' biggest offseason need -- adding a center to play with Pau Gasol. His game appears to complement Iavaroni's up-tempo system.

 

[cranrab]

no announcement yet, but as rumored, derek fisher IS accepting the fakers' MLE.

EDIT: and this guy did VERY WELL for himself as a 2nd round pick:

Thursday, July 12, 2007
Sources: Pistons, forward Johnson agree to 3-year deal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services

Restricted free-agent forward Amir Johnson has agreed to re-sign with the Detroit Pistons for an estimated $12 million over three years, NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Thursday.

The Pistons have now realized their top two offseason priorities by retaining the promising young Johnson and keeping 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups.

The Pistons have hardly used Johnson since taking him with the 56th pick in the 2005 NBA draft. In two seasons with Detroit, Johnson has played in just 11 games.

He posted a career-high 20 points on 10-for-14 shooting in this season's finale against the Celtics.

 

[cranrab]

good for the young man. but i hope his agent inserted an escape clause (extension) after the 3rd season.

Thursday, July 12, 2007
Howard's new deal reportedly worth $85 million over five years

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services

Center Dwight Howard has signed a contract extension, the Orlando Magic announced Thursday.

The five-year extension is estimated to be worth $85 million, the Orlando Sentinel reported, but the exact value won't be known until next season's salary cap is released.

"Dwight has already become one of the most intimidating forces in the league down low, and at 21 years old, he is only going to get better," Magic GM Otis Smith said in a statement. "We continue to make this organization one in which fans can be proud of, both on and off the court, and Dwight is obviously a big part of that. We look forward to watching Dwight's development in a Magic uniform for many years to come."

Howard became the fourth player in Magic history to earn All-NBA honors when he was named to the third team last season. He started all 82 games last season, averaging a team- and career-best 17.6 points, a team-high 12.3 rebounds, a team- and career-best 1.9 blocks and 1.9 assists in a team-high 36.9 minutes per game.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

dawg hate to break it 2 u.. but im a clip fan and we are going to sign francis..... he will be our starting point guard teaming back up with Tino just like old times.....

sigh, lifes gr8...

This doesn't bother me at all..but where does that leave Livingston??

I personally like having Cassell as the backup.

 

[cranrab]

no announcement yet, but as rumored, derek fisher IS accepting the fakers' MLE.

Fisher is returning to Lakers
The guard, a member of three championship teams with L.A, agrees in principle to a three-year, $14-million contract. He must first clear waivers, which is considered likely.
By Mike Bresnahan
Times Staff Writer

July 13, 2007

The Lakers are dipping into their past, plucking guard Derek Fisher from the temporarily unemployed line and pulling him back into their fold.

A member of the Lakers for three championship runs, Fisher has agreed in principle to a three-year contract worth about $14 million, a move that would reunite him with the team that drafted him from Arkansas Little Rock with the 24th pick in 1996.

He must first clear waivers after the Utah Jazz files paperwork to terminate his contract, a process that probably won't be completed until next week. There is also a chance he'll be claimed by a team willing to pay the remainder of his Utah contract — three years and almost $21 million — but that is considered unlikely.

The first year of Fisher's proposed deal with the Lakers would pay him slightly more than $4 million, meaning the Lakers would have only a little more than $1 million left from their $5.3-million mid-level exception to sign another free agent. They also have the veteran's exception of $1.3 million at their disposal.

Separately, the Lakers could re-sign center Chris Mihm without using the remainder of their mid-level exception or their veteran's exception.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak spoke in general terms Thursday, neither confirming nor denying the possibility of Fisher returning to the Lakers.

"That position has been something that we identified as an area where we felt we needed to improve," Kupchak said. "Not a slight to Jordan [Farmar] and our drafted rookie [Javaris Crittenton], who's just 19 years old, but at 19 and 20 years old with limited NBA experience, we're not going to think that they're going to be the ones that can lead the team next year.

"Having said that, without naming players that are out there, when we have additional information and we have an announcement, we'll make that announcement. Right now, we're not in that position, but we're getting close."

Fisher would increase the Lakers' roster to 13 players and move their payroll close to the luxury-tax threshold of $67.87 million. Teams are charged a dollar in luxury taxes for every dollar they are over the threshold. Only five teams paid the tax last season — New York ($45.1 million), Dallas ($7.2 million), Denver ($2 million), Minnesota ($998,536) and San Antonio ($196,082).

Kupchak said last month the Lakers would try to limit next season's roster to 14 players, one below the NBA maximum, although he said Thursday that "you have to be flexible."

Second-round pick Marc Gasol of Spain will play in Europe next season, but Kupchak was impressed by the team's other second-round pick, Sun Yue, who has played for Team China this week at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Undrafted Boise State guard Coby Karl has played well for the Lakers' summer-league team in Las Vegas.

Fisher, who turns 33 next month, fills numerous needs for the Lakers, who have been seeking a veteran ballhandling guard since the Smush Parker experiment failed. Obviously familiar with the triangle offense, Fisher probably steps right into the Lakers' starting lineup.

A franchise favorite in his first tour with the Lakers because of his activity in the community and his diplomacy in the locker room, Fisher had the ear of Coach Phil Jackson and, of equal importance these days, Kobe Bryant.

Bryant would not reveal if Fisher's arrival would guarantee his return to the Lakers.

"I'm not getting into my situation," Bryant said Wednesday at a Nike promotional event. "I'm just not going to go there."

Bryant, a friend of Fisher's in happier days with the Lakers, spoke warmly of his former backcourt mate in broader terms.

Fisher asked out of his contract with the Jazz two weeks ago to move to a city with more appropriate medical care for his 1-year-old daughter, Tatum, who has a rare form of eye cancer. Unless another team claims him off waivers, Fisher will end up taking a significant pay cut.

"It's a very tough predicament for him to be in," Bryant said. "Obviously, he's got to look after his family. That's always been his No. 1 concern. He and I are extremely, extremely close. I just want what's best for him."

Fisher left the Lakers three years ago after signing a six-year, $37-million free-agent contract with Golden State. He was traded to Utah before last season and started 61 games, averaging 10.1 points, 3.3 assists and 27.9 minutes, higher numbers than those during the 2003-04 season, his last with the Lakers. He averaged 7.1 points, 2.1 assists and 21.6 minutes that season.

Fisher is expected to be a mentor to the Lakers' ballhandling guards, who are as young as any in the league.

Fisher was in the playoffs all eight years with the Lakers, with some memorable moments to boot. He averaged 13.4 points in the 2001 playoffs as the Lakers won the second of three consecutive titles, and he made his unforgettable "0.4" shot as time wound down in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference semifinals against San Antonio.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

.. I like this move..

Nuggets sign Chucky Atkins
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 07/13/2007 04:23:52 PM MDT

Chucky Atkins, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies, accepted a two-year deal with the Denver Nuggets.

Denver - Chucky Atkins kept a smile on his face while enduring an NBA-worst 22 win campaign with the Memphis Grizzlies last season. And now that his chances of winning are much greater with the Nuggets, the new starting point guard is smiling big for good reason now.

The Nuggets signed Atkins to a two-year guaranteed deal today paying $3.2 million next season and $3.4 million in the 2008-09 season with a team option for a third season, according to sources. The eight-year NBA veteran arrived in Denver this morning to sign the contract and take a physical. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder replaces Steve Blake at point guard and is expected to add 3-point shooting and leadership while joining Allen Iverson in the backcourt.

"Did you see what I went through last year? All that losing?" said Atkins in a phone interview. "I can't take that no more. I thought Denver was a perfect spot for me and how I play. They missed someone like me in the playoffs. Someone who can make shots. I think I fit in perfect."

Atkins, 32, averaged 13.2 points and 4.6 assists in 75 game while shooting .379 percent from 3-point range last season with Memphis. The only Nugget who shot better from 3-point range last season was J.R. Smith (.390). The Orlando native has also played for Detroit and Boston, in the Continental Basketball Association and in Croatia and has played in 35 NBA playoff games. Nuggets vice-president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien declined comment.

"We definitely got the pieces to win it all," Atkins said. "The challenge for me is getting it to fit. I won't do like I did in Memphis and do all the scoring. I don't have to do it now. That's one of the reasons why I came here...

"My whole thing with Denver is how well we focus. On 90 percent of the nights, we'll have the most talent. But how will we focus? That's where my veteran leadership comes in."

 

[cranrab]

.. I like this move..

i have to agree. a veteran that can play his position and shoot from distance. the only drawback is his size, but presumably he'll have marcus camby and nene hilario to watch his back.

that leaves steve blake and mo williams still unsigned.

 

[cranrab]

say goodbye to uncle cliffie:

Nets ink Carter to multiyear deal
/ Associated Press
Posted: 3 hours ago

The New Jersey Nets signed a deal with guard Vince Carter on Friday that will keep the eight-time All-Star in New Jersey at least through the 2010-11 season.
Carter will receive $66 million guaranteed - which includes four years plus a partial guarantee for a fifth year - and could make as much as $80 million, according to a person involved in the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Nets haven't announced the terms.

The framework for the deal was first reported on July 1.

Carter recently became a free agent when he opted out of the final year of a contract with the Nets that would have paid him $16.3 million next season.

Though New Jersey announced the opt-out at the end of June, speculation over Carter's future was a constant undercurrent during a season in which the Nets struggled to maintain consistency before finishing 41-41. New Jersey reached the second round of the playoffs, losing to Cleveland.

Carter said all along that he would address the situation after the season, and on Friday he acknowledged that he had difficulty envisioning himself in a uniform other than New Jersey's.


"I knew it could happen. It's about patience and waiting for the right time," Carter said at a news conference. "I kind of put it on the shelf and wanted to concentrate on my season, and I probably played my best basketball this year because of that."

Carter was the only Net to play in all 82 games last season and averaged 25.2 points, six rebounds and 4.8 assists.

"How many other guys can do that?" Nets general manager Rod Thorn said. "You can count them on one hand. We certainly would have been remiss if we'd let Vince get away, and fortunately, that didn't happen."

The re-signing of Carter, the NBA's fourth-highest scoring active player with a career average of 24.1 points, indicates that the team feels its nucleus - Carter, Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and rehabbing center Nenad Krstic - is strong enough to contend for a title, with a few tweaks.

"It was important to me to keep the core group together because we understand each other, we know our likes and dislikes," Carter said. "We all get along. That's the ingredient, is having guys who really know each other like the back of our hands, and I felt that was really important."

The Nets have failed to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs in the last four years since reaching the NBA finals in 2003 against San Antonio. In 2005-2006, Carter's first full season with the team, he averaged nearly 30 points in the postseason but the Nets couldn't match Miami's bench and were eliminated by the Heat in the conference semifinals.

Last season Carter averaged 22.3 points to lead the Nets in the postseason, but he shot less than 40 percent from the field and made several big mistakes.

He turned the ball over in the closing seconds of Game 4 of the conference semifinals against Cleveland with the Nets down two points and 2-1 in the series. He also struggled in the deciding Game 6, scoring 11 points while and committing more turnovers (five) than baskets (four).

New Jersey will have Krstic back for next season after he missed 56 games with a knee injury, but the Nets are still seeking to add another big man. That could be journeyman Mikki Moore, who replaced Krstic and averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds and shot a league-best 61 percent from the floor.

However, Thorn indicated Friday that Moore had received offers from several teams and didn't make it sound as though the Nets would match them.

"Not necessarily," he said. "We'll decide what we feel is prudent and see if that's good enough to get something done."

The Nets have reportedly met with 6-foot-11 veteran Jamaal Magloire, who averaged 6.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and shot 50 percent from the floor while averaging 21 minutes for Portland last season.

Also on Friday, the Nets waived veteran forward Clifford Robinson, who had spent the last two and a half seasons with the team.

Robinson led New Jersey's bench players with averages of 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 2005-2006, but he was suspended for five games during the postseason for violating the league's drug policy midway through the conference semifinal series against Miami.

Last season Robinson averaged 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 50 games.

Robinson ranks seventh in NBA history in games played (1,380), 13th in minutes (42,561), 33rd in points (19,591), 16th in three-point field goals made (1,253) and eighth in personal fouls (4,175).

 

[cranrab]

so what now for desmond mason?

Peterson agrees to 4-year deal with Hornets
/ Associated Press
Posted: 3 hours ago

Morris Peterson and the New Orleans Hornets agreed to terms on a 4-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract has not been announced, said Peterson would sign the deal following a vacation.

Peterson visited Salt Lake City earlier this week to meet with Utah Jazz officials. He also said Detroit, New Jersey, Cleveland, Miami and Toronto had expressed interest in him.

He has spent his entire seven-season career with the Raptors.

The 6-foot-7, 220-pound Peterson, who can play shooting guard or small forward, has career averages of 12 points along with nearly four rebounds, two assists and a steal.

His production and playing time fell last season - averaging 8.9 points and 21.4 minutes - one season after career highs in scoring (16.8), rebounding (4.6), steals (1.3) and minutes (38) a game.

Peterson produced sporadically during a first-round series against the Nets last season. He scored 17 points in Toronto's Game 5 win, then had nine points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in Game 6 when the Raptors were eliminated.

After helping Michigan State win the 2000 national championship, Peterson was drafted 21st by the Raptors. He averaged 14 points in his second and third NBA season and 12.5 in his fourth season.

As a restricted free agent in 2004, the Hornets signed Peterson to a $15 million, three-year offer sheet and Toronto retained him by matching the deal.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

i have to agree. a veteran that can play his position and shoot from distance. the only drawback is his size, but presumably he'll have marcus camby and nene hilario to watch his back.

that leaves steve blake and mo williams still unsigned.

Blake Chooses Portland
July 13, 2007 - 4:58 pm
Rocky Mountain News -
Free-agent point guard Steve Blake said today he has agreed to a three-year deal with the Trail Blazers.

Blake averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 assists in 49 games with the Nuggets last season. He was willing to return to Denver but opted for Portland as the Nuggets were on the verge of finalizing a contract with guard Chucky Atkins.

"That's OK, if that's the direction they want to go," Blake said in a brief phone interview. "I just decided to go back to Portland."

Blake, 27, made $1.33 million last season and was seeking a starting salary close to the NBA's $5.35 million midlevel exception.


Bucks And Williams Move Closer To Deal
July 13, 2007 - 8:19 pm
Journal-Sentinel -
Negotiations all day Friday pushed the Milwaukee Bucks closer to a deal with free-agent point guard Mo Williams, but no final agreement has been reached.

Sources indicated the Bucks have offered a six-year, $51 million deal to Williams, increasing their offer from a five-year, $42 million contract.

"We're making good progress," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "Negotiations are progressing well, and we're optimistic. We still have some details to work out."

"We talked and some progress was made," said Williams' agent, Mark Bartelstein, regarding his conversations with the Bucks. "We're working toward some things.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

To piggyback on the Denver move ..I'm wondering if they Nuggets would consider moving Melo to the 2 if/when KMart comes back.

 

[xfactor]

Blake Chooses Portland

Glad to see another of the great ACC PGs in Steve Blake back in a Blazers' uniform. I'm still not a fan of all the moves that Pritchard is making (even without Francis and Fernandez the Blazers have 4 PGs on the roster) but I'm a fan of Blake.

Denver should be looking to deal for a PG very soon because Atkins is a solid backup at best. Can Iverson run the point with efficiency?

I really thought a lineup of -

Blake
Iverson
Anthony
Hilario
Camby

Bench -

Smith
Kleza
Martin

Had a chance to go far in the playoffs. Looks like they took a step back to me.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Sacramento Signs Mikki Moore
July 14, 2007 - 1:51 am
AP -
Mikki Moore agreed to a contract with the Kings on Friday night, leaving the Nets to join his eighth NBA team.

The 7-foot Moore had a breakthrough campaign with the Nets last season, averaging career highs of 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while making nearly 61 percent of his shots, leading the NBA. He started 55 games for New Jersey while filling in for injured Nenad Krstic, providing energy and veteran experience as the Nets reached the second round of the playoffs

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Smith OKs 2-Year Deal With Bulls
July 14, 2007 - 5:26 am
Chicago Tribune -
League sources confirmed the Bulls reached agreement on a two-year contract with Joe Smith late Friday, the veteran forward who had been their No. 1 target in free agency, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

Financial terms weren't available, but the Bulls had the midlevel salary-cap exception of $5.36 million at their disposal.

As recently as Thursday, general manager John Paxson had expressed pessimism the Bulls would land any of the veteran big men they had been targeting. Those included the Nets' Mikki Moore and the Lakers' Chris Mihm.

Smith is slotted to take the place of P.J. Brown to start alongside Ben Wallace and Luol Deng in a frontcourt that suddenly is loaded with reserves Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

Smith averaged 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in 65 games with the Nuggets and 76ers last season. 76ers general manager Billy King had called re-signing Smith an off-season priority.

But the Bulls wooed Smith with a possible starting role and a serious approach that stressed the opportunity to play a prominent role in a winnable Eastern Conference next season. A face-to-face meeting at the Berto Center with Paxson and coach Scott Skiles that took place earlier this month was said to have made a strong impression.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Jazz Sign Jason Hart
July 14, 2007 - 1:47 am
AP -
The Utah Jazz signed point guard Jason Hart on Friday.

Hart signed a multiyear contract, but terms were not disclosed, said Kevin O'Connor, Jazz vice president of basketball operations.

The 6-foot-3 Hart played for Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers in 2006-07, a combined total of 36 games, and averaged 6.9 points, 2.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.22 steals in 23.6 minutes.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Stackhouse Inks Contract With Mavericks
July 14, 2007 - 5:24 am
Dallas Morning News -
Jerry Stackhouse has signed a three-year contract extension worth approximately $21 million, the Mavericks announced Friday.

"We are happy to have Jerry back" coach Avery Johnson said in a press release. "He had other opportunities, but to have a veteran such as Stack is positive for us.

"He is a tough-minded, physical player and one of the best reserves in the league."

Stackhouse had agreed to terms in principle on July 5, but the finalized contract was announced Friday.

 

[cranrab]

Blake Chooses Portland

i concur with XF.

i think this was a good move for portland and for steve blake. win/win

portland gets a familiar face and a solid player, steve blake got his FA $ and some financial security and could still get some decent minutes.

 

[cranrab]

Sacramento Signs Mikki Moore

steve kerr is fond of saying that jason kidd has made a lot of players a lot of $ in the NBA.

this is a prime example.

mikki moore has career numbers playing alongside jason kidd, but i highly doubt he'll be able to pull off similar numbers playing in sacramento. who may be playing next season without mike bibby.

no numbers announced yet, so who knows if sacramento got fleeced, but i think its fair to say that mikki moore wins the FA sweepstakes on this one.

are the kings gonna be in the cellar with pretty boy coach theus running things?

 

[cranrab]

Smith OKs 2-Year Deal With Bulls

the veteran forward who had been their No. 1 target in free agency, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

Smith is slotted to take the place of P.J. Brown to start alongside Ben Wallace and Luol Deng in a frontcourt that suddenly is loaded with reserves Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

the Bulls wooed Smith with a possible starting role and a serious approach that stressed the opportunity to play a prominent role in a winnable Eastern Conference next season.

this deal is a head-scratcher for me.

i could understand going younger (especially if pj brown retires) in the frontcourt, but joe smith a #1 target?

good for joe smith and all, but the bulls will have to prove to me that they weren't smoking some of the good stuff on this one.