Lakers' Sasha Vujacic also has been contacted by several European clubs, according to a Slovenian newspaper. (Probably a good move for him considering no NBA clubs have expressed interest in signing the restricted free agent).
Kobe Bryant said he wouldn't be surprised if Vujacic takes the money and runs to Europe (if the rumors are true) considering the Lakers aren't offering him more than a qualifying one-year deal worth $2.6 million. Orange County Register
Chris Andersen, who earned his nickname for his soaring slam dunks, has agreed to sign with the Nuggets, multiple sources confirmed. The 6-foot-10 Andersen, who resides in Denver, played for the Nuggets from 2001-04 and most recently with the Hornets. The reserve will sign a one-year contract for $998,000 and help fill the Nuggets' void in the low-post. Denver Post
Free-agent reserve forward/center Chris Andersen, who signed with the Hornets in March after serving a two-year suspension by the NBA for violating its anti-drug policy, is expected to sign a one-year contract for $1 million with the Denver Nuggets, where he began his career in 2001, according to the Denver Post. Andersen would be the first of the Hornets' free agents to join another team this offseason. Jannero Pargo, Ryan Bowen and Bonzi Wells remain unsigned. New Orleans Times-Picayune
Pargo, whom the Hornets want to re-sign, wants a three-year deal and has received interest from several teams. He has opted out of his contract with the Hornets the past two years only to re-sign with them. New Orleans Times-Picayune
It's not likely the Hornets will re-sign Wells, but Bowen might be extended an offer. Bowen, who said he wants to return, worked a camp for the Hornets this week. He averaged 1.6 points in the playoffs, playing in nine games. He made the roster last season as a free agent. New Orleans Times-Picayune
Robert Horry has said he wants to return to the NBA for a 17th season but now it appears it won't be with the San Antonio Spurs. Horry, who has spent the last five seasons with the Spurs, told News4 on Wednesday, that there's very little chance he'll be back in a silver and black uniform. WOAI
The Kings have come to terms with point guard Bobby Brown, a point guard out of Cal State Fullerton who played with New Orleans in the recent Las Vegas summer league. It's a guaranteed two-year deal at the league minimum ($442,114) with a player option in the second season, as confirmed by a source close to the Kings. Brown's signing should be official by tomorrow and will be a clear sign the Kings will hold an open tryout of sorts for their backup point guard position. Second-round draft pick Sean Singletary (Virginia) also hopes to land the job of relieving Beno Udrih. Sacramento Bee
Royal Ivey: The Sixers have reached an agreement with the 6-4 backcourt player, who spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks and the first three seasons of his career with the Atlanta Hawks. Ivey, 26, will not officially sign a minimum-salary contract until Monday, which is believed to be for 2 years and include a significant guarantee. The league minimum for a player with four seasons of service is $854,957. Philadelphia Daily News
The agent for restricted free agent forward Carl Landry says his client may entertain offers to play overseas. "Carl would entertain all serious offers," Landry's agent, Buddy Baker, told Houston television station KRIV-TV on Wednesday. AP/Houston Chronicle
With Dooling in, Marcus Williams was out, traded to the Warriors.
But the Nets likely are not done. Minimum-wage types such as Kareem Rush and Royal Ivey remain on the radar, as does the possibility of a trade. NY Post
Though there are two fresh faces on the roster in free-agent guards Mickael Pietrus and Anthony Johnson, there's still a good chance that Smith and the Magic aren't quite done this free-agency season.
And while there's talk that the Magic brass could be setting up to make a trade for Memphis' Javaris Crittenton, he is being mum about the talk surrounding him. Orlando Sentinel
Chris Mullin said no final agreement has been reached with free agent Maurice Evans and no decision has been made whether to match Kelenna Azubuike's three-year, $9.3M offer from the Clippers (deadline is Friday); Mullin agreed that it's probably an either/or/or situation involving Evans, Azubuike or possibly another wing. San Jose Mercury News
Mullin made it pretty clear that he's expecting to sign restricted free agents Monta Ellis (I'd say a five- or six-year deal averaging between $11M and $12M, something like that) and Andris Biedrins (another guess: six years, something like $55M) fairly soon. San Jose Mercury News
Still, Mullin seems to be saying that he didn't think Baron would've taken 5/65M from the Warriors-or that if Baron had taken it, he would've been upset about it very quickly. It's different when you take the deal as the local hero coming home and trying to fit into a salary structure with or without Elton Brand. San Jose Mercury News
Asked if the Evans/Azubuike move pretty much concludes the Warriors' major summer activity, Mullin didn't disagree with the notion. He said C.J. Watson might still be with the team in October, but there have been no final decisions there, either. He said he expected Kosta Perovic to be with the team this season. San Jose Mercury News
Mullin re-iterated what has been written here and other places: He believes in Al Harrington as a player and wants Harrington to be a key piece of how the Warriors play this season, perhaps used more as a slasher and low-post scorer than just merely a three-point chucker. San Jose Mercury News
Warriors vice president Chris Mullin said Wednesday that the signing of a wing player essentially would end the team's whirlwind offseason and complete the roster. In a 25-minute talk, Mullin said a decision on Azubuike is a "Friday thing," admitted pursuing Evans and treaded around the idea that the summer workings could be done. San Francisco Chronicle
A decision on whether to match the Clippers' multiyear offer to Azubuike doesn't have to - and probably won't - happen until Friday. Evans is a 6-foot-5 wing, noted as a defender and a three-point shooter who averaged 9.3 points in 68 games for Orlando in 2007-08. San Francisco Chronicle
Free to sign with any team he pleased, Sebastian Telfair finalized a new three-year contract (two years, his option on the third) Wednesday that brought him back to the Timberwolves and a place he now calls "home." He signed presumably to be Randy Foye's backup, a distinction that neither he nor Kevin McHale say matters. Minneapolis Star Tribune
Only a year ago, Jason Hart's decision to sign as a free agent with the Jazz opened the door for Brevin Knight to head to the Los Angeles Clippers. Now the two veteran point guards are trading places, with Knight coming to Utah in a swap his agent described as a "pleasant surprise" and Hart returning home to play for the Clippers after struggling during his lone season with the Jazz. Salt Lake Tribune
The Jazz must decide by Friday about matching Oklahoma City's offer to C.J. Miles, their restricted free-agent guard. One source close to the situation said Wednesday that he believed the Jazz would match while another said no decision had been made. O'Connor declined to comment about Miles. Knight will come to Utah next week after returning from vacation. Salt Lake Tribune
If Darius Miles plays 10 games with another NBA club next season - and it says here that he will - it will be a blow to the Trail Blazers' salary-cap picture for the future. But not a crippling one. Released by Portland in April after an independent medical examiner ruled his microfracture-repaired knee was "career-ending," the small forward has had a tryout tour in recent weeks with several NBA clubs. Indications are he'll get an opportunity. Portland Tribune
Veteran Raef LaFrentz is entering the final year of a contract that calls for him to make $12.7 million next season. At the midseason trade deadline, the Blazers could send him to another team looking to get out from a long-term deal of a more talented player in what would amount to a salary dump by the other team. Portland Tribune
The Celtics have lost James Posey but gained a new and improved Tony Allen. Allen is expected to return at full strength next season, compensating for the loss of Posey, who last week signed with New Orleans. At least, that is how general manager Danny Ainge is approaching the situation. Allen missed most of the 2006-07 season with a left knee injury and struggled to recover last season. Boston Globe
Danny Ainge's next order of business will be to settle the contract situations of Rivers and assistants Kevin Eastman, Armond Hill, Mike Longabardi, Clifford Ray, and Tom Thibodeau. Ainge said the entire coaching staff is expected to return. Boston Globe
On D'Antoni: There also are growing rumors that he'll be able to attract LeBron James and/or Dwyane Wade when both become free agents in 2010. Don't laugh. It could happen. "You know what? He's actually more detailed than people think," Kobe Bryant said. "I used to think playing against Phoenix that the players are just freelancing, but he draws all that stuff up, and he can have 10 options on one play. I've never seen an offensive mind like his. And I don't know any player on this team that doesn't think (he) wouldn't be fun to play for." Arizona Republic
With a $500 million renovation planned for Madison Square Garden, the Knicks are preparing an application to host the All-Star Game at the earliest possible date. The renovated Garden is scheduled to be ready for basketball by the 2011-12 season. Garden executives have already made an unofficial pitch to N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern, who has embraced the prospect. "I would say it's a very live possibility," Stern said Wednesday in a telephone interview. NY Times
But one prominent player agent told ESPN.com that he does not believe the Childress signing will become a trend because there are not enough European clubs willing to spend money on an NBA level. Olympiacos is one of them, having offered Chris Webber a two-year contract that would have netted him around $10-12 million, and a source told ESPN.com that representatives of a Greek club made calls last season wanting to know what it would cost to buy Leandro Barbosa out of his contract with the Phoenix Suns. ESPN.com
[h2]
Warriors Still Moving Slowly On Monta And Biedrins Talks[/h2]
Jul 24, 2008 11:52 AM EST
The free agencyprocess for Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins has been a lengthy one already and contracts are unlikely to be completed anytime soon.
"I think of things literally, so (Ellis' contract) is not close until it's inked," said Chris Mullin to RustySimmons of the San Francisco Chronicle. "Discussions are ongoing. Biedrins is probably similar. I imagine we'll sign them both to long-termdeals."
Via San Francisco Chronicle
Golden State Warriors
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[h2]
Hornets Want To KeepBowen, But Not Bonzi?[/h2]
Jul 24, 2008 11:48 AM EST
The Hornets areunlikely to re-sign free agent swingman Bonzi Wells, but Ryan Bowen might be extended an offer.
The club lost Chris Andersen to free agency and are working on a deal with Jannero Pargo.
Via Times-Picayune
New Orleans Hornets
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[h2]
Magic Still WantCrittenton?[/h2]
Jul 24, 2008 11:45 AM EST
There is stilltrade buzz surrounding Orlando's attempt to acquire Javaris Crittenton.
Crittenton is being relatively quiet about the talk surrounding him.
"It's up in the air right now," Crittenton told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal this week while playing in the Las Vegassummer league. "You never know if I'm going to be traded. It's the NBA. You can't be relaxed. I just want to be somewhere I canplay."
Via Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Magic
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[h2]
Pargo Wants Three-YearDeal[/h2]
Jul 24, 2008 11:43 AM EST
Jannero Pargo,whom the Hornets hope to re-sign, wants a three-year deal and has received interest from several teams.
He has opted out of his contract with the Hornets the past two years only to re-sign with them.
Via Times-Picayune
New Orleans Hornets
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[h2]
Sixers Reach Agreement WithIvey[/h2]
Jul 24, 2008 4:27 AM EST
The Sixers havereached an agreement with former Milwaukee guard Royal Ivey, the Philadelphia Daily News is reporting.
Ivey will not officially sign a minimum-salary contract until Monday, which is believed to be for 2 years and include a significantguarantee.
"He's a very tough kid who is better offensively than people think," said Keith Glass, Ivey's agent. "Hisdefense and aggressiveness tend to overshadow his offense, but he's gotten better offensively each year."
Via Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia 76ers,Milwaukee Bucks
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[h2]
Landry Next To BoltOverseas?[/h2]
Jul 24, 2008 3:05 AM EST
Houston'sCarl Landry may be the next NBA player to turn away offers from NBA teams to cash in overseas, his agent has told the Houston Chronicle.
"Carl would entertain all serious offers," Landry's agent, Buddy Baker, told Houston television station KRIV-TV onWednesday. "There is serious interest in Carl by both other NBA teams and internationally."
On Wednesday, former Hawks' forward Josh Childress surprisingly made the jump from the NBA to Euroleague despite being wanted byAtlanta.
Via Houston Chronicle
Houston Rockets
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