[flamesbball84]

I think it's foolish for any NBA player to opt out of his contract in this market. Teams are trying to clear cap space for a run at the 2010 free agent class, and also trying to cut costs in this economy... especially a player such as Turkoglu, who is on the wrong side of 30.

I think if you have a guaranteed contract, you should ride that out for another year.

Several contending/playoff caliber teams aren't looking to cut costs (kif they are, they sure aren't showing it with their acquisitions) most notably the Cavs, Magic, Hawks, Wizards to name a few. Whichever team gets Amare Stoudemire isn't indicating an effort to cut costs as well.

[flamesbball84]

Free agent Marcin Gortat’s agent is telling teams he has received a full midlevel contract offer.
Odds are the offer came from the Rockets, who were the first team to meet with Gortat just after midnight.

[flamesbball84]

Celtics GM Danny Ainge and assistant director of basketball operations Leo Papile visited free agent Rasheed Wallace just after midnight Wednesday to make their recruiting pitch.
"I know he is definitely considering playing for them," a league source told Yahoo! Sports. The C's are also said to be interested in Raptors free-agent guard Anthony Parker.

[flamesbball84]

Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan is flying to Orlando Wednesday to have dinner with free agent Hedo Turkoglu.
Turkoglu is then expected in Oregon on Thursday for a tour of the Blazers' facilities and meetings with Portland management. All signs are currently pointing to Turkoglu signing with the Blazers, but it is still far from a done deal.

[flamesbball84]

First big FA signing...

The Detroit Pistons made the biggest early splash in free agency on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/stor ... NHeadlines

So they have two shooting guards that live strictly by the term shooting. Not sure how this is going to work, Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, and Ben Gordon, and Charlie Villanueva all will be commanding the ball a lot, and two of them play the same position...

[Liberty4Life]

First big FA signing...

The Detroit Pistons made the biggest early splash in free agency on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/stor ... NHeadlines

So they have two shooting guards that live strictly by the term shooting. Not sure how this is going to work, Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, and Ben Gordon, and Charlie Villanueva all will be commanding the ball a lot, and two of them play the same position...

...and Gordon and Villanueva don't really do things like play defense. It's an idiotic move, especially DET fired their coach (which was the dumbest thing DET did since trading Chauncey Billups). Who knows what type of system the new coach wants to run? Maybe Gordon & Villaneuva won't fit into that so well...

I'm more surprised with the Clippers deal: First, that they found a buyer for Zach Randolph, and second, that they acquired Quentin Richardson (who doesn't really fit into their lineup). Oh well.

[Th3rd]

also the cavs are looking hard at artest as well as ariza, but they do not have the money to pay either of them, unless they decide to take a pay cut

[flamesbball84]

I'm more surprised with the Clippers deal: First, that they found a buyer for Zach Randolph, and second, that they acquired Quentin Richardson (who doesn't really fit into their lineup). Oh well.

It's called a salary dump. A bunch of the bad teams are doing it now.

[flamesbball84]

also the cavs are looking hard at artest as well as ariza, but they do not have the money to pay either of them, unless they decide to take a pay cut

I'm sure the Cavs wouldn't mind going into luxury tax territory if it meant they had a better chance to keep Lebron next summer.

[flamesbball84]

The Cavaliers are aggressively pursuing unrestricted free agents Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza, and it sounds promising that they could land at least one, if not both of them.
LeBron James had a recruitment conversation with Artest late on Tuesday, while Ariza is unhappy with the Lakers initial offer, and is said to be ready to bolt. While the signing of Shaquille O'Neal doesn't guarantee the Cavaliers will win the East next season, adding Artest and Ariza would likely make the Cavs the overwhelming favorite to win it all. However, coming up with a financial plan to afford both players may take some creativity on the part of Cleveland.

They'd be the the frontrunner for the championship if they signed both of them. Imagine a lineup of Mo Williams, Ariza, Lebron, Artest, and Shaq

[Th3rd]

looks like the Rockets are also in on the Ariza fray

[flamesbball84]

Rockets unrestricted free agent Ron Artest told CBSSportsline.com that he is going to sign with the Lakers. The deal is for five years and $32 million, according to the L.A. Times.
"I’m definitely going to L.A. — to sign, yeah," Artest said in a phone interview. "Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I’m in L.A. right now." Artest said that he met with owner Dr. Jerry Buss Thursday, has spoken with Phil Jackson and is meeting with his agent, David Bauman, tonight to finalize details. This likely means Trevor Ariza will not be returning to the Lakers, but could be joining Artest's former team, the Rockets. "I don't really care about the money," Artest said. "I'll play there for nothing." Jul. 2 - 6:44 pm et

Donnie Walsh acknowledged that he can offer more than a one-year contract to potential free agents after a report surfaced stating that he would offer Jason Kidd a three-year deal.
If the Knicks are going to offer Kidd three years, which is what the Mavericks are offering, the chances of him going to New York look much better - even if the offer is for less money. Kidd would love to play for Mike D'Antoni and his kids live in New York. "I have a little leeway which will leave me in good position for next year," Walsh wrote to The Associated Press. "I know what it is but do not talk much about it." Jul. 2 - 7:28 pm et

[ToTheLeft]

Ariza to the Rockets... Artest to the Lakers... Sheed likely to Boston. All good moves for those teams.

[ToTheLeft]

Gortat to the Mavs.

[flamesbball84]

Gortat to the Mavs.

This basically means Brandon Bass is leaving Dallas. Wonder where he goes next, he is a good young PF, he just has to go to the right team or he won't be very successful.

[flamesbball84]

Sounds like David Lee could be toronto bound...as long as the knicks dont match the offer

[ToTheLeft]

Gortat to the Mavs.

This basically means Brandon Bass is leaving Dallas. Wonder where he goes next, he is a good young PF, he just has to go to the right team or he won't be very successful.

The Magic have already been in touch with him. If he's willing to take half or so of the MLE, he's probably Orlando-bound. He has the same agent as Rashard, so I am sure they are on good terms with the Magic...

[flamesbball84]

Gortat to the Mavs.

This basically means Brandon Bass is leaving Dallas. Wonder where he goes next, he is a good young PF, he just has to go to the right team or he won't be very successful.

The Magic have already been in touch with him. If he's willing to take half or so of the MLE, he's probably Orlando-bound. He has the same agent as Rashard, so I am sure they are on good terms with the Magic...

I still think it's a bad move. He's too good of a player to go to a team and just be Howard's backup and an occassional PF alongside Howard for 10-15 minutes a night. Plus, based on Gortat's statistical data provided by 82games.com, the ten best floor units that contained Gortat didn't have Howard, which clearly suggests that Bass and Howard won't be able to be on the floor at the same time and the Magic be as successful because Bass' game isn't all that different from Gortat's. If they can't coexist on the floor at the same time, he's not going to get more than 10-15 minutes a night.

The Spurs, Pistons, Nets, and Thunder are also after him - he's worth more than just half the MLE and is virtually guaranteed to get more playing time on those squads, so I expect he won't be in Orlando if that's all the money they are going to give him given the limited amount of playing time he will almost assuredly receive. If he goes to any of those other teams, he could be a starter or the sixth man and get a ton more playing time. A FULL mid level in 2009 was $5.585 million. Bass is a better and younger player right now than Gortat, if Gortat can get a full mid level exception then Bass would be a complete moron to accept anything less than that.

[thepostman]

bass would start at the 4 if signed and lewis would move to his natural position at the 3...they want to keep peaches coming off of the bench...so I am not sure how limited bass's playing time would be..

[Liberty4Life]

I'm more surprised with the Clippers deal: First, that they found a buyer for Zach Randolph, and second, that they acquired Quentin Richardson (who doesn't really fit into their lineup). Oh well.

It's called a salary dump. A bunch of the bad teams are doing it now.

Yes, but I'd also qualify Memphis as a bad team, and they are taking on salary. Zach Randolph is a cancer, too -- his high school coach once said something to the effect of, 'I read the newspaper every day to see if Zach Randolph has been shot dead. If he hasn't, that's a good day'.

In an unrelatd story, it looks as if Rubio is going to shun Minnesota and play for Spain for two more years. My question: how long does an NBA team hold on to his draft rights? And what happens after that? I know in baseball, the time frame is quite short (it used to be one year, it might be even less now). After that, the player has to go right back into the draft. What happens in basketball? At what point is he no longer obligated to sign with the T'Wolves if he goes to the NBA?

[ToTheLeft]

I'm more surprised with the Clippers deal: First, that they found a buyer for Zach Randolph, and second, that they acquired Quentin Richardson (who doesn't really fit into their lineup). Oh well.

It's called a salary dump. A bunch of the bad teams are doing it now.

Yes, but I'd also qualify Memphis as a bad team, and they are taking on salary. Zach Randolph is a cancer, too -- his high school coach once said something to the effect of, 'I read the newspaper every day to see if Zach Randolph has been shot dead. If he hasn't, that's a good day'.

In an unrelatd story, it looks as if Rubio is going to shun Minnesota and play for Spain for two more years. My question: how long does an NBA team hold on to his draft rights? And what happens after that? I know in baseball, the time frame is quite short (it used to be one year, it might be even less now). After that, the player has to go right back into the draft. What happens in basketball? At what point is he no longer obligated to sign with the T'Wolves if he goes to the NBA?

Indefinitely. The Magic still own Fran Vazquez's rights from the 05 Draft, and will until they trade them/relinquish them. (There has been far out there rumors that the Magic will go after him this offseason, since it will be their only chance to get him realistically in the near future since his buyout is so low right now...)

[flamesbball84]

I'm more surprised with the Clippers deal: First, that they found a buyer for Zach Randolph, and second, that they acquired Quentin Richardson (who doesn't really fit into their lineup). Oh well.

It's called a salary dump. A bunch of the bad teams are doing it now.

Yes, but I'd also qualify Memphis as a bad team, and they are taking on salary. Zach Randolph is a cancer, too -- his high school coach once said something to the effect of, 'I read the newspaper every day to see if Zach Randolph has been shot dead. If he hasn't, that's a good day'.

In an unrelatd story, it looks as if Rubio is going to shun Minnesota and play for Spain for two more years. My question: how long does an NBA team hold on to his draft rights? And what happens after that? I know in baseball, the time frame is quite short (it used to be one year, it might be even less now). After that, the player has to go right back into the draft. What happens in basketball? At what point is he no longer obligated to sign with the T'Wolves if he goes to the NBA?

Yes, but it's Memphis ahd Chris Wallace - their GM is the same guy who traded for Vin Baker when he was a GM for the Celtics. This guy makes Elgin Baylor look like a smart GM.

[flamesbball84]

bass would start at the 4 if signed and lewis would move to his natural position at the 3...they want to keep peaches coming off of the bench...so I am not sure how limited bass's playing time would be..

They'd be better off just saving the money than doing that. Howard and another low post, back to the basket player just isn't going to work. Add Charlotte and New Orleans to the list of teams interested. If it comes down to money, which it most likely will since he is just 24, Orlando doesn't stand much of a chance if all they want to give is half the MLE. Orlando would be better off with someone like Antonio McDyess if they can't reel in Rasheed Wallace. Howard needs the low post to himself to operate - he doesn't need someone like Brandon Bass taking up his territory.

[Th3rd]

turkoglu looks to have a deal made out with the trailblazers.. they still have a team out in portland?

[flamesbball84]

turkoglu looks to have a deal made out with the trailblazers.. they still have a team out in portland?

They have a really good team actually - finished tied for second in the Western Conference and their three best players are really young - headlined by the most underrated player in the league in Brandon Roy. If Oden can just stay healthy and they can get a little PG help, the Blazers can be competing for a Finals appearance. A starting lineup of Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Hedo Turkoglu, Brandon Roy, nd Steve Blake with a bench consisting of Rudy Fernandez (if he stays), Travis Outlaw, Nicolas Batum, Martell Webster, and Joel Pryzbilla (he is a pretty good defensive player) is a pretty good and deep squad.