* Offiical NBA Off-Season Thread: I'll give one of my damn kidney's for these Melo rumors to stop *

[h3at23]

[h2]Nets working to lure several big stars[/h2]

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

The New Jersey Nets are planning to meet face-to-face with two more marquee free agents after their trip Thursday to Northeast Ohio to make the first pitch to LeBron James.

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that the Nets have separate meetings tentatively scheduled Friday in New York City with Miami's Dwyane Wade and Toronto's Chris Bosh.

[h4]LeBron Tracker[/h4]

Where will LeBron James land? We're keeping tabs on the King. Here's the latest. LeBron Tracker

The Nets' contingent, sources said, will include new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, minority owner Jay-Z, new coach Avery Johnson and team president Rod Thorn. ESPN.com reported Friday that Thorn is planning to step down from that role July 15 but has pledged to stay with the Nets through the critical first two weeks of free agency.

Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that the New York Knicks are also going ahead with plans to meet with Wade and Bosh in New York after traveling Thursday to James' home state to meet with their top target.

Although there's an overwhelming expectation among interested teams that Wade will stay with the Heat, that hasn't stopped the Knicks and Nets from pursuing in-person meetings to try to convince the 2006 NBA Finals MVP otherwise.

It's believed that Bosh will also meet face-to-face with the Chicago Bulls soon after free agency officially commences at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, but it remains to be seen if Wade -- a Chicago native who was recently critical of the Bulls' organization -- intends to huddle with the Bulls.

Both Bosh and Wade are represented by the same agent: Chicago-based Henry Thomas.

New York, New Jersey and Chicago, like Wade's Heat, are all expected to have the requisite salary-cap space to sign at least one max-contract free agent and potentially two depending on where the salary cap for the 2010-11 season is officially set on July 7.

Teams, though, are not allowed to publicly discuss any specific recruiting plans for players that aren't their own until free agency starts and are technically not even allowed to arrange such meetings before July 1. But the league office has yet to respond to news reports throughout the weekend about the scheduling of various free-agent meetings.

 

[jpzx]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallasmavericks/post/_/id/4669648/mavs-trying-to-get-seat-at-lebrons-table

A league source told ESPNDallas.com on Sunday that the Dallas Mavericks have been in touch with the LeBron James' camp in an attempt to set up a meeting with the holy grail of the upcoming free agent season. According to a New York Times report, five teams already have meetings set with James in Ohio on Thursday, the first day of free agency: the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallasmavericks/post/_/id/4669648/mavs-trying-to-get-seat-at-lebrons-table

 

[scuse7]

Wes Johnson could suck?

And Brad Millar...just making us older.

 

[i nasmatic i]

Can we sticky this so we don't have so many redundant threads about LeBron, Bosh, etc.? Please.

 

[i nasmatic i]

Can we sticky this so we don't have so many redundant threads about LeBron, Bosh, etc.? Please.

 

[i nasmatic i]

Can we sticky this so we don't have so many redundant threads about LeBron, Bosh, etc.? Please.

 

[mytoasterspeak]

All these cats feeling themselves a bit too much. This reminds me of the Dave Chapelle Rick James skit. "They shoulda neva gave you niigas money" These cats running around saying who can meet with them, and where, and what position they aint go play, and who they want as a teammate, and what kinda food they wanna eat, and how fat the cheerleaders butts got to be, and who knows what else. Bunch of damm clowns. Need to have some sense of humility and humbleness. Only one I respect is Wade, rest of these cats making themselves look real ignorant, selfish, arrogant, and like flat-out aswholes.

 

[kiddin like jason]

WojYahooNBA One prominentagent says tonight: "I think there's a very good chance the Knicks willget shutout (in free agency)...Even likely..."
Here's hoping.

All these cats feeling themselves a bit too much. This reminds me ofthe Dave Chapelle Rick James skit. "They shoulda neva gave you niigasmoney" These cats running around saying who can meet with them, andwhere, and what position they aint go play, and who they want as ateammate, and what kinda food they wanna eat, and how fat thecheerleaders butts got to be, and who knows what else. Bunch of dammclowns. Need to have some sense of humility and humbleness. Only one Irespect is Wade, rest of these cats making themselves look realignorant, selfish, arrogant, and like flat-out aswholes.
Pretty much.

Like I said, it's a ridiculous precedent. Imagine if this becomes a trend and we have to deal with it every summer - even if it's just one or two big names.

 

[jpzx]

[h1]http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_a...ltics_confident_rivers_will_return_for_10_11/[/h1]

[h1]Celtics Confident Rivers Will Return For 10-11[/h1]

Jun 27, 2010 7:19 PM EST

Doc Rivers plans to make a decision this week on whether he will be back or join his family in Orlando. The Celtics are confident on Rivers returning for the 10-11 season.

Rivers has acted like a coach who plans to return. He participated in the Celtics’ draft preparation, and he had been working with general manager Danny Ainge to prepare for the start of free agency on Thursday. He has also had conversations with prospective candidates to replace Tom Thibodeau on his coaching staff, but that hire is on hold.

Rivers had meetings planned with close associates this week to discuss his future.

[h1]http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67496/20100627/pistons_looking_to_move_maxiell_wilcox/[/h1]

[h1]Pistons Looking To Move Maxiell, Wilcox[/h1]

Jun 27, 2010 7:19 PM EST

The Pistons are looking to trade Jason Maxiell and Chris Wilcox, according to the Boston Globe.

The pair will make a combined $8 million next season.

 

[steve cash]

shutout? meaning not get anyone? is so then

someone will get that max contract they dont deserve and will only get it because the Knicks were desperate to land someone.

 

[japanair21]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

WojYahooNBA One prominentagent says tonight: "I think there's a very good chance the Knicks willget shutout (in free agency)...Even likely..."

Here's hoping.

All these cats feeling themselves a bit too much. This reminds me ofthe Dave Chapelle Rick James skit. "They shoulda neva gave you niigasmoney" These cats running around saying who can meet with them, andwhere, and what position they aint go play, and who they want as ateammate, and what kinda food they wanna eat, and how fat thecheerleaders butts got to be, and who knows what else. Bunch of dammclowns. Need to have some sense of humility and humbleness. Only one Irespect is Wade, rest of these cats making themselves look realignorant, selfish, arrogant, and like flat-out aswholes.
Pretty much.

Like I said, it's a ridiculous precedent. Imagine if this becomes a trend and we have to deal with it every summer - even if it's just one or two big names.

Are you against what Dallas has done to set themselves up as FA players for this off-season? Or just how many teams like MIA, NYK have gutted their team just for cap space?

I still think the DECIDING factor in all of this, is $$$. The benjamins. The ONLY way these cats are going to get max money by changing teams? Sign-and-trade. The beautiful thing for Dallas is, they're pretty much the best team in contention that can go give a team a S+T. Miami can't. New Jersey would have to gut their team. New York can't. Miami can't. Chicago doesn't have anything too valuable, just a bunch of long contracts.

Be real, is someone like LeBron going to walk away from virtually a GUAURUNTEED 30-million difference between signing with their own team (and then trading?) or going to a different team and not getting that guaruntee. The Mavericks can do that. They can offer Dampier and Terry or Caron, and then Barea and/or Beaubois, and jackpot. Still left with a great team in-tact, and lure a huge free-agent.

Also Broussard reported that we got offered Luol Deng for Dampier. We rejected. Now his contract is terrible and he's not what I need, but that to me is an indication of.. "we have bigger fish to fry, no thanks."

But, enough of me getting on the Dallas hope-wagon... The real truth is, are these players going to sacrifice upto THIRTY million just to play on a better team? A sign-and-trade is MUCH better deal for both the team losing said player AND the player. Your ex-franchise player gets the money he wants, and the team doesn't get left with nothing.

Call me crazy, but of all the factors, that's the largest.

 

[jpzx]

[h1]http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi...rk_unlikely_to_take_extension_with_mavericks/[/h1]

[h1]Dirk Unlikely To Take Extension With Mavericks[/h1]

Jun 28, 2010 1:23 AM EST

The Mavericks were hoping to be able to sign Dirk Nowitzki to a contract extension, but that is now unlikely according to a source.

Nowitzki said last month that he would exercise his early termination option and explore free agency.

When Nowitzki opts out, he will be leaving $21.5 million on the table. A new deal could start at a lower number, but would provide more security by stretching over four years.

 

[japanair21]

By extension they mean take the final year of his contract.

He'll opt out and sign a longer deal for financial security.

 

[jpzx]

Jealousy.

 

[kiddin like jason]

Are you against what Dallas has done to set themselves up as FA playersfor this off-season? Or just how many teams like MIA, NYK have guttedtheir team just for cap space?
Just the latter.

Hassan choosing number 33. I like that.

 

[i nasmatic i]

I'd rather get left with nothing than take on Luol Deng and his terrible contract.

 

[bittersweet]

Originally Posted by JapanAir21

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

WojYahooNBA One prominentagent says tonight: "I think there's a very good chance the Knicks willget shutout (in free agency)...Even likely..."

Here's hoping.

All these cats feeling themselves a bit too much. This reminds me ofthe Dave Chapelle Rick James skit. "They shoulda neva gave you niigasmoney" These cats running around saying who can meet with them, andwhere, and what position they aint go play, and who they want as ateammate, and what kinda food they wanna eat, and how fat thecheerleaders butts got to be, and who knows what else. Bunch of dammclowns. Need to have some sense of humility and humbleness. Only one Irespect is Wade, rest of these cats making themselves look realignorant, selfish, arrogant, and like flat-out aswholes.

Pretty much.

Like I said, it's a ridiculous precedent. Imagine if this becomes a trend and we have to deal with it every summer - even if it's just one or two big names.

Are you against what Dallas has done to set themselves up as FA players for this off-season? Or just how many teams like MIA, NYK have gutted their team just for cap space?

I still think the DECIDING factor in all of this, is $$$. The benjamins. The ONLY way these cats are going to get max money by changing teams? Sign-and-trade. The beautiful thing for Dallas is, they're pretty much the best team in contention that can go give a team a S+T. Miami can't. New Jersey would have to gut their team. New York can't. Miami can't. Chicago doesn't have anything too valuable, just a bunch of long contracts.

We're talking about guys that have been in the league for 6+ years, they've BEEN getting money ...

At this point in their careers, I think they care more about winning than more money ...

 

[japanair21]

Are you going to leave 30 million on the table?

Plus, the type of team LeBron, Wade, or someone of that caliber would be getting in Dallas is equal/comparable to what they'd get ANYWHERE else.

I don't care what player it is, they're not going to take less-money. The only person that has done that recently is Duncan, and it's because he was getting older.

 

[h3at23]

We will see but don't get your hopes to high Dallas.

I know my hope have lowered recently 

 

[i nasmatic i]

Nay.

 

[acidicality]

I can see the Warriors making a move to get Maxiell or Wilcox somehow

 

[tsamshox]

Originally Posted by JPZx

Jealousy.

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Originally Posted by tSamShoX

Originally Posted by JPZx

Jealousy.

 

[bigmike23]

the money doesnt really matter much to bron since he will make it up all off the court. now to guys like bosh, and the others they will have to do a sign and trade

 

[japanair21]

Originally Posted by Bigmike23

the money doesnt really matter much to bron since he will make it up all off the court. now to guys like bosh, and the others they will have to do a sign and trade

I'm shocked yall are saying this.

A few million might not sound like much, but I feel these guys will want every penny they can get.