http://[h3]
[h3]Varejao drawing interest[/h3]
11:08AM ET
[h5]Anderson Varejao |
Cavaliers [/h5]
According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, "sources say numerous teams have inquired about
[Anderson] Varejao, but the Cavs won't even entertain such talks unless they're getting a superstar in return."
In particular, Berger reports he's on Denver's list of veteran players they'd like in a trade for
Carmelo Anthony, but that Melo has no interest in signing an extension in Cleveland.
Denver's frontcourt has been slowed by injuries heading into the season, and Varejao could provide a reliable and capable starter if need be, or some high energy off the bench.
But if the team won't get a star in return, it looks like they'll be holding onto him for now.
Yet, don't entirely rule it out in the future. It's been speculated that if Cleveland is struggling at the trade deadline this season,
Mo Williams and
Antawn Jamison could be on the block.
If the team is able to package one of them with Varejao for a star, it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibly they could indeed include him in such a deal if it makes sense.
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN's John Hollinger[/h5]
Varejao had impressive 2009-10 campaign
"Varejao produced the best season of his career at both ends and was a legitimate candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. One thing that stood out is how much less he flopped -- while Varejao still drew 28 charges, it was barely half the 51 he drew a year earlier. Instead, he flew around the court with even more energy than ever, swallowing up pick-and-rolls and defending the post with similar vigor. The Cavs allowed 5.8 points per 100 possessions less with Varejao on the court, and the visual backed up the numbers -- he was a relentless defensive presence. Varejao also delivered some offensive value, converting 65.6 percent of his shots in the basket area for the fifth-best mark in the league. The other underrated part of his game is that he's a good ballhandler who had one of the better pure point ratings among big men. His next challenge is to bring the same energy for more extended bursts as a starting center."
[/h3]
http://[h3]Knicks, Nets still in a race for Melo[/h3]
9:31AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony |
Nuggets [/h5]
The Knicks on Wednesday denied a report by
ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan that discussions with Denver regarding
Carmelo Anthony were on again.
"It's just talk," head coach Mike D'Antoni told
The New York Times. "And I'm not going deal in it. I don't deal in it."
D'Antoni is downplaying the Knicks' interest, but it's very high, especially since filmmaker Spike Lee has informed president Donnie Walsh that Anthony wants to play for the team.
"Carmelo definitely, 100 percent wants to be a Knick," a source tells the
New York Post.
Meanwhile,
The Record reports the Nets have not stopped pursuing Anthony and rookie
Derrick Favors is still part of a trade for the All-Star.
"They (the Nets) still have a pretty good feeling that something could get done," an NBA source tells the newspaper.
Reportedly the deal currently on the table for Anthony is Favors,
Troy Murphy,
Kris Humphries and two No. 1 picks.
Anthony continues
to say all the trade speculation isn't distracting him.
"I'm too focused in on this season right now to let rumors or anything like that come in and take over," Anthony said. "I'm focusing on playing basketball and doing what's right for the team."
Asked if he just wants the whole thing to be resolved, Anthony told
The Denver Post: "It doesn't bother me. It really doesn't bother me. I'm able to still wake up in the morning and smile, come in here, laugh and joke with my teammates, play basketball. That stuff doesn't bother me. It's not life or death."
http://[h3]Heat waive Hasbrouck and Randolph[/h3]
9:23AM ET
[h5]Miami Heat [/h5]
The
Miami Heat waived guard
Kenny Hasbrouck and forward
Shavlik Randolph on Wednesday. The roster is at 16, so another move will need to be made by Monday.
The players on the bubble are rookies
Patrick Beverley and De'Sean Butler and veteran
Jamaal Magloire.
http://[h3]Suns could still land Dampier[/h3]
9:04AM ET
[h5]Erick Dampier |
Mavericks [/h5]
The
Phoenix Suns remain on the list of teams veteran center
Erick Dampier will consider signing with in the near future.
"We are continuing to explore ways to improve our roster," Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby told
The Arizona Republic.
Dampier, according to the newspaper, is expected to select a team before the rosters are set Monday.
"Phoenix is certainly one of the top teams he's considering," said Dan Fegan, Dampier's agent.
http://[h3]Richardson's next contract[/h3]
9:03AM ET
[h5]Jason Richardson |
Suns [/h5]
Suns guard
Jason Richardson is entering the final season of his contract with the team and the two sides have had discussions about the possibility of an extension and they will do so again at some point.
"We've had a number of preliminary discussions regarding Jason," agent Dan Fegan told
The Arizona Republic. "We expect to resume talks to determine a direction in the near future."
Richardson will earn $14.4 million this season.
http://[h3]Kobe won't play heavy-minutes early[/h3]
9:03AM ET
[h5]Kobe Bryant |
Lakers [/h5]
Kobe Bryant, still recovering from right knee surgery, is averaging only 19.5 minutes in the six preseason games and head coach Phil Jackson says his shooting guard will continue to have limited time on the floor once the regular season tips off on Tuesday against the
Houston Rockets.
"I don't anticipate he's going to be playing heavy-minute games to start this season," Jackson told
ESPNLosAngeles.com. "So, we'll have to find a pattern out there so he has the greatest influence in the amount of minutes he gets."
Bryant has played in all six preseason games, but is listed as questionable for Thursday against Golden State in San Diego.
http://[h3]Hornets waive Strawberry[/h3]
9:03AM ET
[h5]New Orleans Hornets [/h5]
The Times-Picayune reports the Hornets waived
.J. Strawberry on Wednesday night after their game against the Bobcats.
The Hornets roster is now down to the limit of 15.
http://[h3]Magic still a Laker VP[/h3]
8:49AM ET
[h5]Los Angeles Lakers [/h5]
UPDATE: According to
The Orange County Register, Magic Johnson, who sold his 4.5 percent share in the Lakers, will retain his title as vice president with the team.
Johnson told the
Los Angeles Times that he wants to own the majority of a sports team and would like to help bring a NFL team to Los Angeles.
"I haven't had any discussions about the NFL," Johnson said. "But I really, really want the NFL to come back to LA. Would I be interested? Of course I will be interested. Have I talked to anybody? No. But I would do that in two seconds."
Fans of the Dodgers would probably like to see him part of the MLB team, but that's not going to happen.
"No, I won't be buying the Dodgers," said Johnson.
----
Magic Johnson sold his 4.5 percent share of the
Los Angeles Lakers on Monday to Patrick Soon-Shiong. According to the
Los Angeles Times, Johnson's shares had an estimated value of $27 million, but he reportedly got more than that.
"It was a very smart business decision on Earvin's part [to sell]," said Lon Rosen, Johnson's longtime agent.
"The sale amount was 'a lot more' than $27 million, a team source said. "[Magic] was made an offer that he couldn't refuse."
There had been speculation that Johnson wants to own an NBA team, but this sale has nothing to do with those rumors.
Now that Johnson is no longer an owner of the Lakers, ESPN.com's J.A. Adande thinks he should buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.
[h5]J.A. Adande[/h5]
Dodgers need Magic
"It would be a great public-relations decision to buy the Dodgers. For the past 30 years, Johnson has defined sports in L.A. He's the guy with a basketball-dribbling statue outside Staples Center, even though he never played in the building.
Kobe Bryant's five championships have to be viewed in the context of Magic's achievements; even Kobe said he now has finally earned the right to sit at the same dinner table as Magic. ... Does he know baseball? Well, he probably didn't know every last bean of the coffee business before he partnered with Starbucks, but he made sure to learn from those who did. That's because, most of all, he knows what works. It's about investing in smart people and hard workers, regardless of the business. Los Angeles loves him. The Dodgers need him. Johnson is nothing if not successful. Does anyone doubt that if he bought the Dodgers it could be Winnin' Time all over again?"
http://[h3]Blazers waive Hill and Sykes [/h3]
8:16AM ET
[h5]Portland Trail Blazers [/h5]
The
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=porPortland Trail Blazers waived center
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3477Steven Hill and forward
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=4039Raymond Sykes on Wednesday. The roster now stands 16. The team must get down to 15 by Monday and point guard
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=4004Patrick Mills is the likely candidate to be waived.
Mills plans to keep playing hard until a final decision is made.
"You can come in with the mentality that I'm here for a reason, and while you're here, make the most of an opportunity, or you can just pretty much give up and throw it all away," Mills tells
The Columbian. "The mentality I have is that you gotta work hard, because if it doesn't work out here, it will work out somewhere else."
Mills should find a new team fairly quickly, if he is indeed released by Portland.
http://[h3]Big Baby not worried[/h3]
7:38AM ET
[h5]Glen Davis |
Celtics [/h5]
Even though
Glen "Big Baby" Davis is entering the final year of his contract with Boston, which coincides with the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, the burly forward says he is not worried by the uncertainty of his next deal.
"Yeah, it motivates me, just as a player," Davis told
The Boston Globe. "I can't dwell on it, because if it worries you, it stops you from the task at hand. So I'm just focused on trying to get back to the championship, trying to win a championship and help my team."
Davis will earn a little more than $3 million this season.
"Things will fall off the way they are supposed to," he said. "I just got to keep playing and don't worry about it. There's nothing I can do, but it does test my patience. But at the same time, what else can I do? Sit there and just wait."
http://[h3]Celtics keep Wafer[/h3]
7:25AM ET
[h5]Von Wafer |
Celtics [/h5]
Veteran guard
Von Wafer has won the last spot on the Celtics roster over camp invitees
Stephane Lasme and
Mario West. The team made the decision Wednesday night.
Lasme and West will officially be released first thing Thursday morning and will clear waivers on Monday.
"I'm going to go home and relax," Lasme told
ESPNBoston.com "I'm sure somebody is going to call. I'll wait for the phone call and make my decision from there."
Lasme could play for the Celtics D-League team in Maine, if an offer from another team in the NBA or overseas doesn't come his way.
The Celtics still have
Tiny Gallon on the roster, but he's expected to be waived by Monday, when the club's 15-man roster will be set.
http://[h3]Good news for Collins[/h3]
7:10AM ET
[h5]Doug Collins |
76ers [/h5]
UPDATE: The tests done Tuesday and Wednesday were negative and Doug Collins is expected to rejoin the 76ers on Friday.
"He's feeling better," associate head coach Michael Curry told
The Philadelphia Inquirer. "Tests, as he sees them right now, were good. So we're expecting him bright and early Friday morning. [He will] start going over some tapes, getting ready for the start of the season."
----
76ers head coach Doug Collins left the team on Tuesday and returned to Philadelphia to visit a neurologist, since he's suffering from headaches and dizziness. He fell in May on Memorial Day and sustained a concussion.
"He told us this morning, he hadn't said anything before," assistant coach Michael Curry told the
Philadelphia Daily News. "Hopefully they'll run the tests and hopefully he'll be good. I haven't noticed any difference. We've been meeting a lot and going over a lot of things in preparation for these next two games and for the start of the season. We've been together a lot and spent a lot of hours together. I haven't seen anything different."
"I found out about it [yesterday]," said president Rod Thorn. "I had no idea that he had had a concussion. I'm just glad that it's something that he felt strongly enough about that he needed to get checked. We're hopeful that it will be a temporary thing and he'll be back with us soon. Evidently he's been having some headaches and a little vertigo."
Collins may miss Wednesday's game against the Knicks.
http://[h3]Blair wins starting spot[/h3]
6:43AM ET
[h5]DeJuan Blair |
Spurs [/h5]
Second-year power forward
DeJuan Blair has been named a starter for the Spurs final preseason game and will have the same role when the season begins next week. Blair will join
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=215Tim Duncan,
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1006Richard Jefferson,
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1015Tony Parker and
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=272Manu Ginobili in the starting lineup.
"Starting in the NBA is a big thing for anybody who's in the NBA," Blair told the
San Antonio Express-News. "Getting minutes is another big thing, and being smart. He's giving me the opportunity, and I'm going to take full advantage of it and try to be the best I can be."
Blair, 21, will be the youngest opening night starter since Parker did that in 2002.
http://[h3]Vasquez's ankle slow to heal[/h3]
6:33AM ET
[h5]Memphis Grizzlies [/h5]
Greivis Vasquez, the No. 28 pick in the June draft, has not fully recovered from ankle surgery and will begin the season on the inactive list.
"It has to be disappointing for him," head coach Lionel Hollins told
The Commercial-Appeal. "Training camp was a chance to establish himself. (The injury) delayed his opportunity. It definitely puts him behind the eight ball in terms of getting in the rotation. The train is down the track. He's on a push cart behind it."
Vasquez, when he does get healthy, will be the third point guard behind
Mike Conley and
Acie Law.
http://[h3]Diogu and Hamilton waived[/h3]
5:57AM ET
[h5]Detroit Pistons [/h5]
The
Detroit Pistons released
Ike Diogu and
Vernon Hamilton on Wednesday. The roster is now at 15 and set for the season.
"We'll miss them," head coach John Kuester told the
Detroit Free Press. "Ike was coming off an injury, and he's got a place in the league. There's no question in my mind. ... Both of those young men elevated our practice."
http://[h3]Minnesota waives two[/h3]
5:47AM ET
[h5]Minnesota Timberwolves [/h5]
UPDATE: Maurice Ager, who was signed to a non-guaranteed contract, remained on the roster Wednesday, but he could be waived Thursday, so that he can clear waivers on Monday. Ager will earn at least one day of pay if he's not waived by 6 p.m. eastern on Thursday.
It's possible the Timberwolves could make another move by Monday.
"You might see something happen," head coach Kurt Rambis told the
Star Tribune. "It's not out of the question that we'd carry 15."
----
According to Sam Amick of FanHouse, the Timberwolves have waived guard
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=312Jason Hart and forward
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=848John Thomas.
Such moves leave the roster at 15 players. This could mean the Wolves' final roster is set, as that's the maximum allowed by the league.
