Trade buzz: Grizz interested in Mason?
Around the NBA, some team officials are privately wondering: Afterlistening to San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich disparage them overPau Gasol’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, would the MemphisGrizzlies be hesitant on making a deal with the Spurs?
After all, veteran shooter Roger Mason is available in San Antonioand Memphis needs some scoring off its bench. Yes, sources say, theGrizzlies do have an interest with Mason and have the cap space toabsorb much of his $3.7 million salary. But a league source saysGrizzlies general manager Chris Wallace still needs the OK from ownerMichael Heisley to take on the contract.
Mason has fallen out of the Spurs’ rotation and the organization is working with his agent, Mark Bartelstein, to find a trade.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 3:30 p.m. ET, Feb. 17
Hill in Rockets deal?
If the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets work out an agreement forTracy McGrady, Knicks rookie Jordan Hill expects to be in the deal, asource close to him said. The Knicks have made it clear they’ll bewilling to include Hill if it helps them move Jared Jeffries’ contract.
Trading Hill and Jeffries would clear more than $9 million insalary-cap space, allowing the Knicks to possibly sign two max-levelfree agents this summer.
– Marc J. Spears, 12:04 p.m. ET, Feb. 17
Celtics, Lakers in talks for Robinson
League sources say the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers haveboth had discussions with the New York Knicks regarding guard NateRobinson.
Robinson has a no-trade clause, but would welcome a move to eitherteam. He also is a base-year compensation player, which complicates anytrade.
The New York Daily News first reported the talks between the Celtics and Knicks Tuesday night.
Marc J. Spears, 11:55 a.m. ET, Feb. 17
Stoudemire done in Phoenix?
Amar’e Stoudemire(notes) and the
Phoenix Sunsare no longer discussing a contract extension, and the All-Star forwardwas privately telling friends that he believes he’s playing his lastgame in a Suns uniform on Wednesday night in Dallas, sources said.
As Yahoo! Sports reported, agent Happy Walters and Suns generalmanager Steve Kerr exchanged contract offers over the weekend but werefar apart in talks, sources said. Those privy to the conversationsamong Suns ownership, management and Walters say they no longer includescenarios where Stoudemire isn’t traded prior to Thursday’s deadline.
Stoudemire can opt out of the $17.7 million on his 2010-11 contract;unless the Suns trade him, they could end up getting nothing for him.
Meanwhile, the
Miami Heatare still working to put together a package for Stoudemire, although asource familiar with Pat Riley’s most recent offer says it doesn’tinclude
Michael Beasley(notes). Miami failed in its attempt to enlist the
Charlotte Bobcats as a partner to take on
Udonis Haslem(notes) in a three-team trade.
The Heat could be willing to take on
Jason Richardson’s(notes) contract, which has one year worth $14.4 million left after this season, for the chance to land Stoudemire to play alongside
Dwyane Wade(notes).
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 4:32 a.m. ET, Feb. 17
Rockets debate Knicks, Bulls offers for T-Mac
With proposals from the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls in hand,
the Houston Rockets are moving closer to deciding where to send Tracy McGrady.
– Marc J. Spears and Adrian Wojnarowski, 4:12 ET, Feb. 17
Bucks’ interest in Murphy waning?
The
Milwaukee Bucks have shuffled their roster for several different offers for
Indiana Pacers forward
Troy Murphy(notes), but a big stumbling block for a deal has been the Pacers’ reluctance to take on guard
Charlie Bell(notes), who is due $7.8 million over the next two seasons.
The impasse has some team officials skeptical that talks will be revived.
Murphy, 29, has been on the
Cleveland Cavaliers’ list of targets, but the Cavs remain focused on deals for Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire or the
Washington Wizards’
Antawn Jamison(notes).Murphy will make nearly $12 million next season, and getting him offthe books will give the Pacers some flexibility in free agency.
The Bucks also had interest in New York’s
Al Harrington(notes) but would prefer Murphy to play alongside center
Andrew Bogut(notes). Murphy is averaging 14 points for the Pacers, who are destined for another lottery season.
– Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears, 4 a.m. ET, Feb. 17
Cavs interested in Maggette?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had discussions with the
Golden State Warriors about swingman
Corey Maggette(notes), but as of late Tuesday afternoon the teams hadn’t talked for four days, league sources said.
If the Maggette-for-
Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes) talks don’t pick up, the Warriors are skeptical about their chances of making any deal before Thursday’s deadline.
– Marc J. Spears, 10:35 p.m. ET, Feb. 16
Bobcats keeping Augustin?
The Charlotte Bobcats sound like they would prefer to hold onto guard
.J. Augustin(notes) through the deadline. At the least, Augustin provides some level of security if
Raymond Felton(notes) leaves the Bobcats as a free agent this summer.
– Marc J. Spears, 10:35 p.m. ET, Feb. 16
Cavs-Wizards talks heat up
While waiting on the Phoenix Suns to decide what to do with Amar’e Stoudemire, the Cleveland Cavaliers have made progress in
their talks with the Washington Wizards about Antawn Jamison. Some within the Cavs organization see Jamison as a better fit than Stoudemire.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 7:19 ET, Feb. 16
Heat fail to recruit Bobcats
The
Miami Heat have failed to recruit the
Charlotte Bobcats as a third team in trade talks for
Amar’e Stoudemire(notes), league sources said. The discussions centered on Charlotte taking on
Udonis Haslem(notes) in a deal, but the price ultimately made no sense for them.
It would’ve possibly opened the door for Miami to deal
Jermaine O’Neal(notes) to the Suns and receive both Stoudemire and
Jason Richardson(notes). The Suns have tried to include Richardson, who will make $14.4 million next season, in packages with Stoudemire.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 6:08 p.m. ET, Feb. 16
Gooden could become free agent
Drew Gooden(notes) will likely negotiate a buyout with the
Washington Wizards, sources said. Once a free agent, he’ll have several possible destinations, including the Charlotte Bobcats,
Milwaukee Bucks,
Denver Nuggets and a return to the
Dallas Mavericks.
The Wizards acquired Gooden on Saturday in a trade sending
Caron Butler(notes),
Brendan Haywood(notes) and
DeShawn Stevenson(notes) to Dallas.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 6:08 p.m. ET, Feb. 16
Spurs eye Thomas
The San Antonio Spurs have explored trade options for Antonio McDyess while pondering
a deal for Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas.
