Carlos Delfino

Odds & Ends: Bulls, Josh Howard, Deng, Heat

Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com (via Twitter) points out that the Bulls are specifically $758,642 below the luxury tax apron and that the league minimum salary for sophomore players is $762,195. This definitely factors into the situation of Malcolm Thomas, who put on a standout performance as a member of their summer league roster and more importantly is entering his second year in the league. Deeks still doesn't think that Chicago is willing pay the tax, adding that the team isn't in any rush to make moves that would incidentally put them over the apron. Here are more of tonight's links from around the NBA…

  • Matt Moore of CBS Sports gives the Bobcats a grade of "C" for their work this offseason. 
  • Earl K. Sneed of NBA.com talks about the plenty of backcourt options that the Mavericks have for the upcoming season. 
  • Australia's David Andersen hopes that Wednesday's game against Team USA is enough to make an impression as he hopes for an opportunity to return to the NBA, writes Sean Deveney of the Sporting News. The 6'11 forward/center played in Italy last year and was a member of the Hornets during the 2010-11 season. Andersen says he will continue to play in Europe if he doesn't receive an offer from an NBA team. 
  • Chris Bernucca of Sheridan Hoops examines the top 20 remaining free agents and groups them by position. 
  • Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune tweets that the Jazz are expected to re-engage in talks with free agent Josh Howard soon. 
  • Brian Kamenetzky of ESPN LA clarifies that although the Lakers are interested in Jodie Meeks, the shooting guard isn't quite open to signing for the veteran's minimum. Also, Kamenetzky notes that while the team has placed a priority on adding a backcourt or wing player, they won't use their mini-mid level exception to overpay for a player they feel isn't worth that much. Earlier today, Brian joined his brother Andy to discuss some names in free agency that are worth considering, including Carlos Delfino, Tracy McGrady, and Terrence Williams in addition to Meeks. 

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Atlantic Rumors: Garnett, Delfino, Knicks, Teletovic

It's not uncommon for NBA players to own a stake in other sports. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are joint owners of a racehorse, and LeBron James is a part of Fenway Sports Group, the parent company of baseball's Boston Red Sox and English soccer club Liverpool FC. Nonetheless, the NBA will not permit Kevin Garnett to invest in AS Roma, an Italian soccer team, because Celtics minority owner James Pallotta is already one of the club's owners, as Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Globe reported this weekend. We've got more on the C's and their Atlantic Division rivals here:

Odds & Ends: International, Celtics, Sixers, Heat

As Olympic basketball is underway this Saturday morning, Hoopsworld.com's Alex Raskin takes a look at a few international prospects who could someday make it to the NBA.

Here's a look around the rest of the league. 

Cavs Eyeing C.J. Miles, Carlos Delfino

The Cavaliers continue to shop for small forwards, and aren't necessarily targeting players to replace Alonzo Gee, says Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. According to Pluto, the Cavs may add a small forward in addition to Gee, and are eyeing C.J. Miles and Carlos Delfino.

This isn't the first time we've heard about Cleveland's interest in Miles, who met with the Cavs last week. While the Cavs could view Miles as a Plan B if they fail to come to terms with Gee, it seems unlikely that the restricted free agent will slip away, as the team is prepared to match any offer sheet he signs. So it's not surprising that Pluto suggests the Cavs could be interested in signing both players. Still, Miles may be headed elsewhere, as he's said to be close to a decision and drawing serious interest from the Lakers.

Delfino, meanwhile, has reportedly received some interest from the Rockets and others, but has yet to find the multiyear deal he's seeking. With a few expiring contracts coming off their books at the end of 2012/13, the Cavs have the flexibility to make Delfino a multiyear offer if they so choose, but the club may view that as an unnecessary commitment for a non-core player.

Kyler On Barbosa, Delfino, Howard

HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler has taken to Twitter this afternoon, answering questions from followers and dropping some compelling tidbits along the way. Let's check out the highlights here:

  • There's been little talk about free agent guard Leandro Barbosa this summer, and that appears to be because he's been holding out for a multiyear deal. Kyler says he's spoken to teams trying to land the speedy 6'3" Brazilian, and hears Barbosa is not entertaining any one-year offers (Twitter links).  
  • The Hawks, Pacers and Celtics are among teams that have reportedly considered signing Carlos Delfino at different points this past month, and Kyler adds the Rockets to that list. Like Barbosa, Delfino is seeking multiple years. Kyler believes both players will ultimately have to settle for the offers on the table, likely meaning they'll ink the one-year contracts they've been trying to avoid (All Twitter links). 
  • Kyler shares his take on why Dwight Howard chose to waive his early termination option at the trade deadline. He believes Howard thought doing so would lead the Magic to ship him to the Nets in the offseason, following the model of what the Hornets did when they traded Chris Paul to the Clippers (Sulia link). Kyler says that while Howard loves living in Orlando, it's the Magic organization that has him so anxious to leave, and adds, via Twitter, that agent Dan Fegan didn't force Howard's hand when he opted in.  

Odds & Ends: Sixers, Adam Morrison, Earl Watson

With the Olympics set to get underway less than a week from now, Carlos Delfino remains unsigned even though he's talked to a few different teams about employment for next season. The Bucks, however, have not made any contact with the Argentinean swingman and that upsets Delfino. "I expected to have at least a conversation [with Milwaukee]," Delfino told HoopsHype. "I ended up aggravating my injury because I wanted to play with the Bucks. It hurts me a little bit that they have not even reached out to me. Let's check in around the league on the latest news and stories making headlines…

  • The Sixers are confident that they made the right decisions this offseason to improve their roster heading into the 2012/13 season, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Key additions include Nick Young, Dorell Wright and Kwame Brown while Elton Brand, Jodie Meeks and Lou Williams will be playing elsewhere next season.
  • Don't expect to see Adam Morrison on the Clippers' roster next season as he's not playing at the level of an NBA player, predicts Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld (via Twitter). Morrison did managed to score 22 points and grab four rebounds in a summer league victory over the Lakers on Thursday.
  • Even though Earl Watson is still months away from being able to play basketball, he's keeping himself a part of the Jazz team by visiting the squad at the Orlando Summer League, writes Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune. This is nothing new for the guard as he dressed for a playoff game against the Spurs in May even though he was on crutches. 

Odds & Ends: Delfino, Jamison, Knicks, Lopez

The Celtics‬ have expressed some interest in Bucks‬ swingman Carlos Delfino with O.J. Mayo off the market and Courtney Lee likely being too pricey, a source tells ‪A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE‬.com (via Twitter).  Delfino, a restricted free agent, averaged 9.0 PPG and 3.9 RPG in 28.5 minutes per game last year for Milwaukee.  Here’s more from around the Association..

Odds & Ends: T-Wolves, Griffin, Nuggets, Hollins

Chris Haynes from CSNNW.com has confirmed that the Timberwolves offered Derrick Williams and two first round picks in exchange for Nicolas Batum earlier this summer. Portland, obviously, turned the deal down. (Twitter link). Batum has signed an offer sheet that was given to him by Minnesota, but Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has repeatedly said he would match it before the Wednesday night deadline, sending him back to Portland on a four-year, $46.5MM deal. 
  • After tearing his left meniscus during a Team USA practise last Wednesday, Blake Griffin was forced to remove himself from the Olympic games. The Clippers forward had successful surgery today, and is still expected to be ready in time for training camp, tweets Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc J. Spears. 
  • The Nuggets are considering using their amnesty provision on forward Chris Andersen, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. Andersen has two years and $9MM left on his deal.

Earlier updates:

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Free Agent Rumors: Mavs, Dragic, Orton, Blazers

Day 3 of NBA free agency is underway, and the July free agent period hasn't lacked for action so far. We'll use this space to track a number of updates on second- and third-tier free agents as the day continues. Here's the latest:

Earlier updates:

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Delfino Wants To Stay In Milwaukee

Soon-to-be free agent Carlos Delfino told HoopsHype that he would like to remain with the Bucks, saying that he has felt involved with the team and that the last three years with them have been positive overall (Sulia link). Since joining Milwaukee in 2009-10, Delfino has enjoyed a consistent role with averages of 30.4, 32.4, and 28.5 MPG respectively in the last three seasons. This year, he averaged 9.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 40.2% from the field and 36% from deep. 

The 6'6'' swingman also said that if healthy, he would have no problem playing for the Argentinean Olympic team this summer without having resolved his contract situation (Sulia link). Delfino had surgery on his groin in early May to treat a sports hernia.