Carl Landry

Bob Myers On Warriors Offseason

Warriors general manager Bob Myers spoke today about several different issues regarding how his team's fared this offseason, and what the expectations are for next year, writes CSNBayArea.com.

On the re-signing of Brandon RushObviously he had  a great year shooting the basketball. It also gives us some continuity. There are some new players on the team. Bringing Brandon back—as a player who has been with our coaching staff and some of our other players was important.

On the signing of Carl LandryWe just think he’ll help our core group, and we’re thrilled to have him on our team. It’s nice see a player come to our team and not feel like we had to go crazy financially to get him. So we’re hopefully turning the corner to the playoffs—to where people want to play for us because they think we have a chance to win.

Myers went on to say that promising a playoff berth would be "counterintuitive", and that his team has made moves to improve the roster since last year's trading deadline. 

Warriors Sign Carl Landry

WEDNESDAY, 7:04pm: The team announced the signing on its website, making the move official.

MONDAY, 5:30pm: Agent Mark Bartelstein has announced that Carl Landry is set to sign with Golden State, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter).  The forward will receive a two-year deal worth $8MM with a player option in the second season, Stein tweets.

Landry has been the Warriors' top target in recent weeks and was widely considered to be the top player still available on the open market.  The 28-year-old averaged 12.5 PPG with 5.2 RPG per contest last season for the Hornets.  The Bobcats were also in the mix for Landry and were said to be exploring a sign-and-trade for his services, but those talks didn't get very far.

Golden State is also said to be eyeing another Bartelstein client in restricted free agent Brandon Rush.  However, SI's Zach Lowe notes that the Warriors will have a hard time signing both players without surpassing the luxury tax threshold.

After finishing the 2011/12 season with a 23-43 record, the Warriors have made a noticeable effort to shake things up this summer.  So far, General Manager Bob Myers has added six new players to the roster in Jarrett Jack, Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli, Draymond Green, Kent Bazemore, and Landry, with more possibly on the way.

Southeast Notes: Bobcats, Heat, Magic, Howard

On this day 12 years ago, the Heat and Hornets consummated a blockbuster swap that was, at the time, the largest trade in Heat history. The nine-player deal saw Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown, and three others head to Charlotte in exchange for four players, including Anthony Mason and Eddie Jones. We're certainly not expecting a move that big out of the Southeast or any other division today, but there are a few links worth passing on out of the Southeast, so let's round them up….

Warriors Close To Signing Rush, Landry

2:57pm: Bartelstein tells Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle that deals for Rush and Landry could be finalized "within the next day or two" (Twitter link).

2:24pm: The Warriors are closing in on deals with restricted free agent Brandon Rush and unrestricted free agent Carl Landry, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com. Rush and Landry, who are both represented by Bartelstein, could each agree to deals with Golden State by the end of the day, according to Steinmetz.

Landry has been the Warriors' top target for the last couple weeks, as the team looks to add a power forward to its rotation. The former Hornet is arguably the top free agent remaining on the market, but it was unclear whether Golden State had the financial flexibility to make him a competitive offer. SI.com's Zach Lowe tweeted earlier today that the Warriors seem unlikely to be able to sign both Landry and Rush without surpassing the luxury tax threshold.

As for Rush, he has received a little interest from rival teams, including the Lakers, but with the Warriors expected to match any reasonable offer sheet, it seems as if clubs have shied away from formally extending an offer. Bartelstein suggests Rush will simply re-sign with the Warriors rather than signing an offer sheet — in that case, the 27-year-old could either sign his qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, or work out a multiyear agreement with the team.

If the Warriors are able to finalize deals with Landry and Rush, the team probably won't retain free agent forward Dominic McGuire, says Steinmetz.

Bobcats Still Pursuing Carl Landry

The Bobcats are still exploring ways to acquire or sign Carl Landry, reports Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). According to Bonnell, there's a chance the Bobcats join the trade discussions involving the Hornets, Suns, and Timberwolves, entering the deal as a fourth team.

While the Bobcats have interest in Landry and probably have the means to offer him more money than most of his other suitors, a sign-and-trade deal has proved difficult, with Bonnell reporting earlier this week than Charlotte was unlikely to work something out. In order to finalize other roster moves, the Hornets reportedly renounced Landry's Bird Rights, meaning the "sign" half of a sign-and-trade would be challenging. The team would need to recreate cap space in order to be able to give Landry a competitive salary before dealing him to the Bobcats.

The Warriors are also pursuing Landry, and while the veteran forward is said to be interested, Golden State can only offer him a portion of their mid-level exception. Signing him to the full $5MM MLE would put the club over the tax line, and ownership is looking to avoid becoming a taxpayer.

Free Agent Rumors: Landry, Thomas, Mason

A few more free agents have come off the board today, as A.J. Price and Pablo Prigioni finalized deals with the Wizards and Knicks respectively, while Ronnie Brewer was among the players to agree to a new contract, reaching a deal with the Knicks. With a number of available players still on the market though, here's a round-up of a few of the day's assorted free agent rumors:

  • The Hornets have renounced Carl Landry's Bird Rights, making a sign-and-trade difficult to work out, writes Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld. The Bobcats were interested in a sign-and-trade deal for Landry, but New Orleans would need to get back under the cap to have room to make it work.
  • Malcolm Thomas, who was named to the All-Summer League team, is drawing interest from a number of teams, including the Clippers, Bulls, Hawks, and Bobcats, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
  • Former Lakers second-rounder Patrick Beverley is seeking an NBA job, having worked out for the Bulls, Cavs, and Rockets this offseason. Agent Kevin Bradbury tells Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com that he thinks his client would be a good fit in Chicago: "He plays defense and does what’s asked of him. He fits the Bulls’ system. I think that’s intriguing for the Bulls. He really respects [Tom Thibodeau]."
  • The Wizards have interest in bringing back Roger Mason, but Mason isn't looking to sign a one-year, minimum-salary deal, says Michael Lee of the Washington Post. The veteran guard has also received interest from the Thunder, Hornets, Bulls, and Lakers.

Bobcats Unlikely To Sign-And-Trade For Landry

The Bobcats and Warriors were said to be "neck and neck" in the race for free agent forward Carl Landry, with Charlotte potentially able to offer more money via a sign-and-trade deal. However, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, it's unlikely the Bobcats will be able to pull off a sign-and-trade to acquire Landry (Twitter link).

There are a number of obstacles in the way of a sign-and-trade involving Landry, the Bobcats, and the Hornets. Not only would Landry have to agree to go to the Bobcats, but the Hornets would have to agree to send him to Charlotte, which would mean acquiring a palatable package in return. One report suggested that DeSagana Diop's expiring contract could interest the Hornets, and I'd imagine New Orleans would also acquire a draft pick in any Diop/Landry swap. But based on Bonnell's tweet, it doesn't appear those talks have much momentum.

If the Bobcats fall out of the running for Landry, the Warriors certainly look like the odds-on favorite to land him. Golden State probably can't use its full $5MM mid-level exception, but should be able to offer at least a portion of it to Landry. As I wrote last week, the 28-year-old forward now has the best 2011/12 PER of all the remaining free agents.

Hornets, Bobcats Might Trade Landry, Diop

The Hornets are interested in DeSagana Diop, and may pursue a sign-and-trade with the Bobcats that would send Carl Landry to Charlotte, according to Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld. That makes the Bobcats an obstacle for the Warriors, who are also after Landry, Ingram says (Twitter links). A report earlier this week suggested the Bobcats and Warriors were "neck and neck" for Landry.

Diop has one season left on his deal with Charlotte for $7.37MM, while Landry is a free agent, meaning he'd have to consent to go to the Bobcats before any trade can occur. Charlotte would probably have to be willing to outbid the Warriors for that to happen. Golden State is unlikely to use the full $5MM midlevel exception, since doing so would make them a taxpaying team.

The 6'9", 28-year-old Landry averaged 12.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season in New Orleans. His 18.2 PER is tops for remaining free agents with JaVale McGee having re-signed with the Nuggets. Diop saw limited action with the Bobcats, appearing in just 27 games, averaging 1.1 PPG and 3.1 RPG with a 6.8 PER in 12.0 minutes a contest.

Free Agent Rumors: O’Neal, Bulls, Wallace

The Spurs have made a handful of signings so far this summer, but every contract agreement they've reached has been for one of their own players — unrestricted free agents Tim Duncan and Boris Diaw will return, along with restricted free agents Danny Green and Patty Mills. Even the team's one new addition, Nando De Colo, wasn't a free agent, since San Antonio held his NBA rights exclusively. The Spurs are standing relatively pat this offseason, not pursuing outside free agents, and that's just fine with coach Gregg Popovich, as he tells Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.

So while the remaining free agents on the market aren't likely to draw a ton of interest from San Antonio, there are plenty of other potential destinations out there. Here's the latest on a few available players:

  • The Bucks are taking a "long look" at Jermaine O'Neal's workout today, tweets Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.

Earlier updates:

  • The Bulls are eyeing shooting guards such as Marco Belinelli, Randy Foye, Delonte West, and Willie Green, according to Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com.
  • Despite indicating earlier this year that he intended to retire, Ben Wallace would like to return to the Pistons for the 2012/13 season, says Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News. The Pistons have a full roster, so they'd have to make a move to clear a spot to sign the unrestricted free agent.
  • The Warriors and Bobcats are still pursuing Carl Landry, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Charlotte, which could offer Landry more money, is attempting to work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Hornets.
  • A number of teams have expressed interest in Mickael Pietrus, but the Celtics are still "very much in the picture," says A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com adds (via Twitter) that Pietrus has a "huge" offer from an overseas team, but that he wants to play for an NBA contender on more than a minimum-salary deal.
  • The Clippers have reached out to Ryan Hollins and Darko Milicic, in hopes of adding a backup big man for the minimum salary, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Darko's agent Marc Cornstein says playing time will be a bigger factor for his client than money, since the Timberwolves are still sending him pay checks.
  • A big-name free agent came off the market yesterday when the Trail Blazers matched Nicolas Batum's offer sheet. As Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld writes, Blazers GM Neil Olshey stressed that reports suggesting Batum didn't want to return to Portland were orchestrated by the Timberwolves and Batum's agent. "Nic never said that," Olshey said. "Let’s be very clear. Nic made a couple of comments at the behest of the Minnesota Timberwolves and his agent. That was their agenda; it was never Nicolas’s agenda."

Warriors, Bobcats Pursuing Carl Landry

MONDAY, 4:42pm: There are several teams pursuing Landry, with the Warriors and Bobcats "running neck and neck at the front of the pack," reports Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times (via Twitter).

SATURDAY, 5:20pm: The Warriors met with Landry on Friday to discuss the possibility of the forward signing with Golden State, reports Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group (Sulia link).

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