5:54pm: Farmar confirmed to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) that he will be opting in for next year.
5:26pm: Jordan Farmar is opting into the final year of his contract, according to Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star-Ledger (via Twitter). The news contradicts yesterday's report that indicated the point guard would opt out and test the open market.
Earlier today, we heard that the Heat intended to aggressively pursue Ray Allen when free agency begins late tonight. However, Miami isn't the only team with Allen atop its wish list. Sources familiar with the Grizzlies' plans tells Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal that Memphis will go hard after Allen, and intends to offer him the team's full $5MM mid-level exception.
Rockets GM Daryl Morey will kick off the NBA free agent period in Los Angeles, where he plans to meet with restricted free agent Omer Asik tonight, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (via Twitter). The Bulls have officially tendered Asik a qualifying offer worth about $2.32MM, so Chicago will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet the big man signs with another club.
The 76ers did not extend formal qualifying offers to Jodie Meeks, Sam Young, or Xavier Silas, meaning all three players will become unrestricted free agents, says John Finger of CSNPhilly.com. Having played in the NBA for three years or less, each Sixer was eligible for restricted free agency, had Philadelphia made the necessary qualifying offers.
Meeks, who met the starter criteria, would have required a one-year offer of close to $2.7MM, while the other offers for the other two players would have been more modest — about $1.48MM for Young and $962K for Silas.
Jameer Nelson decided yesterday to opt out of his contract, which will make him an unrestricted free agent this summer. However, turning down his player option with the Magic doesn't mean Nelson doesn't want to return to Orlando. According to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, signing a long-term deal with the Magic is still Nelson's number one goal, and the point guard confirmed as much on Twitter today
"Like I have said over and over," Nelson tweeted. "I'd love to stay a Magic and I would love to play for the best fans in the NBA. And I still have faith that it can happen. So again thanks you guys for all the support."
Here are a few more updates on some soon-to-be free agents….
The Cavaliers and Kevin Jones have reached an agreement on a three-year, partially-guaranteed contract, reports Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (via Twitter). Jones, a 6'8" forward from West Virginia, went undrafted on Thursday night, despite being ranked as this year's 45th-best prospect by ESPN.com's Chad Ford.
After drafting a pair of power forwards, Royce White and Terrence Jones, on Thursday night, the Rockets are looking to trade last year's starter. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, Houston is actively shopping Luis Scola in trade discussions. A specific trade partner has yet to emerge, says Stein.
Although it's looking increasingly less likely that Steve Nash will be re-signing in Phoenix, the Suns are eyeing a number of potential targets to pursue using their expected cap space. Among those targets, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, is restricted free agent Eric Gordon. Coro says the Suns are preparing to make a "large offer" to Gordon, who could command in the neighborhood of $12MM annually.
While the Bulls will be involved in free agency, expect the team to take a more casual approach, says Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times. According to Hayes, Bulls GM Gar Forman and vice president John Paxson figure to be mostly spectators during the "fast-and-furious" portion of free agency. The team will still explore possibilities, but those possibilities are more likely to come at the back end of free agency than the front end.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA, as we count down to free agency….
Blake Griffin doesn't hit free agency this summer, but the Clippers figure to make his future a top priority in the coming days nonetheless. According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, when free agency begins, the Clippers are expected to offer Griffin a five-year extension, with an opt-out after four years. Griffin is expected to agree to either that offer or a four-year extension, says Turner. Here are the rest of the Clippers rumors from Turner's piece: