2009 NBA Off-Season Thread (recruit, race, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat)

[CaliDude1]

Rasheed Wallace is a great pick up for the Celtics. If KG is healthy (and that's a big IF) I think Boston's starting five will be the best in the Eastern Conference. Having Perkins come of the bench is a big plus for them. I was very impressed with the Celtics this last playoff run. Of course, they are probably going to lose Big Baby. Not that he is a great player, but he does fit in well with what they do. It would be good if they could keep him, but I don't think they have enough money.

Also, they would be absolute fools to part with Rondo. They really need his energy and youth out there. It all comes down to Rivers managing the minutes of his older players. But if the Celts are all healthy come playoff time you can mark down a June rematch with the Lakers. And I would LOVE to see that!

[JackTheRipper]

Reports: Kidd agrees to 3-year deal with Mavs

DALLAS (AP) -- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tells The Dallas Morning News that Jason Kidd isn't going anywhere.

The free agent point guard has agreed to sign a three-year contract for more than $25 million to remain with Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of the Mavericks. The New York Knicks were among the suitors for the 37-year-old Kidd.

"We are excited to have Jason Kidd back in a Mavs' uniform," Cuban told the Morning News. "He was a major contributor for us last year, and we expect more of the same next year."

NBA.com: Reports: Kidd agrees to 3-year deal with Mavs

[JackTheRipper]

Wade says Heat must be contender for him to stay

MIAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade will remain in Miami on one condition. He wants the Heat to become a championship contender again, the quicker the better.

Otherwise, he might need moving trucks next summer.

The reigning NBA scoring champion, who can opt out of his Heat contract after the 2009-10 season, said Monday that simply getting to the playoffs "is not enough" to satisfy him anymore, and that his long-term commitment to Miami hinges entirely on the franchise getting back into the mix for the title trophy he hoisted just three years ago.

NBA.com: Wade says Heat must be contender for him to stay

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Villanueva tweets that he'll sign with Pistons

DETROIT (AP) -- Charlie Villanueva posted a message on his Twitter account, informing his followers he will sign with the Detroit Pistons.

He and Ben Gordon agreed to five-year contracts with the Pistons, a person with the knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press last week.

Villanueva played for the Milwaukee Bucks last season and Gordon was with the Chicago Bulls.

The Pistons were allowed to begin negotiations with free agents on July 1. The league prohibits its teams from announcing deals until the moratorium period ends Wednesday.

NBA.com: Villanueva tweets that he'll sign with Pistons

[JL]

Blazers interested in Odom.
CBS
Despite reports that the Trail Blazers were preparing to make a major bid for Knicks restricted free agent David Lee, a coaching source familiar with the situation said Portland is more interested in the Lakers' Lamar Odom. And the source described the Odom situation with Portland as "lukewarm." The Blazers and Lee's agent, Mark Bartelstein, discussed the situation early in the negotiating period, but Portland was preoccupied at that time with its pursuit of Hedo Turkoglu. Now that Turkoglu has spurned the Blazers and committed to the Raptors, Portland is deliberating what to do with its $9 million in cap space. The Blazers have been exploring point-guard options for some time, but the coaching source said Sixers free agent Andre Miller isn't the answer because of his sub-part shooting ability.

McDyess is deciding on the Pistons or Spurs
CBS
The Wizards are pursuing Antonio McDyess, but word is he's heading back to the Pistons. A decision from 'Dyess is coming soon, according to a source, and it appears to be between Detroit and San Antonio. Blazers restricted free agent Channing Frye could be a fallback option for Washington. But according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cavs are the latest team to meet with Frye, who also has drawn interest from Denver, Phoenix, and San Antonio.

Shawn Marion to Dallas?
CBS
The Mavericks are pushing for a sign-and-trade with Toronto that would send Shawn Marion to Dallas. Such a deal almost certainly would have to include Jerry Stackhouse going to Toronto -- or a third team -- because only $2 million of his $7 million salary for next season is guaranteed. Toronto is not in a position to take back salary because it needs to clear space to sign Hedo Turkoglu, who agreed to a five-year, $53 million deal over the weekend after reneging on a verbal commitment to Portland. Mavs owner Mark Cuban and Marion's agent, Dan Fegan, are pushing the Dallas scenario, according to a source, and are trying to involve either Oklahoma City or Memphis as a third team to satisfy Toronto's need to clear room for Turkoglu. If the Raptors can't trade Marion, the simplest path to clearing space for Turkoglu would be to renounce its rights to Marion, Carlos Delfino, and Anthony Parker.

Trevor Ariza having 2nd thoughts and possibly signing with the Cavaliers?
WaitingForNextYear
The Internet has made the world a very small place. In the last few hours, rumors have swirled that Trevor Ariza might now be having second thoughts about his deal with the Houston Rockets. The source of the rumors isn’t exactly known, but ESPN radio in Los Angeles had Ariza’s agent on and asked him if there was any truth to the rumor. He answered “no comment.” Is it a coincidence that Mike Brown and Danny Ferry are in Los Angeles today?

This brings up a question- when is a deal a deal? The Houston Rockets had a verbal agreement from Ariza (or at least that is what was reported) to play in Houston for the next 5 years. His compensation was reported to be $34 million dollars. The first day that teams are allowed to sign players to new deals is July 8th. Technically, Ariza is still a free agent. Until the ink is applied to a contract he may speak to whomever he chooses about his basketball future.
Again, these are rumors- but if Brown and Ferry flew to Los Angeles to meet with a player that already had an agreement with another team would you have a problem with that? Isn’t this the same thing that Cleveland fans hate Carlos Boozer for? Didn’t Boozer have a verbal agreement and decide to take a bigger payday with the Utah Jazz?
Perhaps the better question would be this- if the Cavs had a verbal agreement from Ron Artest to play next year in Cleveland for the MLE and Phil Jackson flew across the country to talk him into signing with L.A. would you have a problem with it?

[vinrej]

I think Artest is more valuable than Ariza at the moment but a couple more years then Ariza will mature and Artest will go old.

Anyways, any news if Odom will stay?

[davidmg1]

ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard, quoting an unnamed source, says Cavaliers star LeBron James told free-agent forward Trevor Ariza that he plans to remain in Cleveland after his contract expires in 2010.

Report: LeBron James tells NBA free agent he plans to remain with Cleveland Cavaliers - cleveland.com

Is it possible he was just saying that to lure Ariza to the Cavs?

[JackTheRipper]

Odom leaving as well??!

Lakers ain't taking it next year.

[JackTheRipper]

Hawks agree to 3-year deal with Bibby

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement to re-sign Mike Bibby to a three-year deal.

Bibby's agent, David Falk, said Tuesday he has reached an "oral understanding" that will allow the Hawks to retain the point guard who has led the team to two straight playoff appearances.

"We've reached an agreement in principle that hopefully will be announced very soon," Falk said.

Bibby was an unrestricted free agent. Wednesday is the first day NBA free agents are allowed to sign contracts.

Hawks general manager Rick Sund said Tuesday he could not comment on the status of the talks with Bibby.

NBA.com: Hawks agree to 3-year deal with Bibby

[JL]

Originally Posted by vinrej

I think Artest is more valuable than Ariza at the moment but a couple more years then Ariza will mature and Artest will go old.

Anyways, any news if Odom will stay?

Artest can help the Lakers if he doesn't take bad shots. He has a tendency to dribble a little too much and take off balance shots. The Rockets would never say anything to him about that. I think Kobe will let him know about it during the games. Whether he listens to him throughout the entire season is another matter.

[JackTheRipper]

Raptors to sign forward Bargnani to 5-year extension

TORONTO -- It appears that Andrea Bargnani has secured his long-term future with the Toronto Raptors.

The NBA club has called a news conference for Wednesday afternoon at the Air Canada Centre where it's expected to announce a contract extension for the seven-foot Italian forward, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Raptors in the 2006 draft.

NBA.com: Raptors to sign forward Bargnani to 5-year extension


Pacers sign rookie Hansbrough to contract

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Pacers have signed Tyler Hansbrough, the former North Carolina star who was the team's top pick in the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-9 forward had been playing with the Pacers summer league team in Orlando, Fla., before his singing was announced Wednesday.

As the 13th overall pick, he's slotted in the NBA's rookie salary scale to receive about $1.5 million this season and nearly $1.7 million next season, with a $1.8 million option for his third year.

NBA.com: Pacers sign rookie Hansbrough to contract


Artest officially signs contract with Lakers

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Ron Artest, making official a deal agreed to last week.

The team announced the signing early Wednesday but did not release the terms.

ESPN.com and the Los Angeles Times have reported that Artest, who was an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a three-year deal worth $18 million when he decided to join the team on Thursday.

NBA.com: Artest officially signs contract with Lakers