Derek Fisher

Free Agent Notes: Fisher, Gilder, Joyner

With preseason action right around the corner, several teams are holding informal workouts in an attempt to figure out their training camp rosters. Of them are the Lakers, who've begun bringing in newcomers in El Segundo, writes CBSLA.com. One semi-surprising player in attendance was former Laker point guard Derek Fisher, who was traded by the team to the Rockets last season. 

Here are a few other free agency related notes floating around the league this Wednesday evening. 

  • Forward Trey Gilder has been invited to the Jazz's training camp, writes The Salt Lake Tribune's Brian T. Smith. The 27-year-old Gilder spent last season in the D-League where he averaged 19.2PPG and 7.7RPG in 34 apperances. He's expected to compete for a roster spot with the team. 
  • Terrence Joyner is weighing training camp options from several teams, tweets Hoopsworld.com's Alex Kennedy. If he doesn't take any offers, Joyner will play in the D-League. 
  • The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman gives his top 20 remaining free agents. (Sulia link)
  • Maccabi Tel-Aviv has waived Pops Mensah-Bonsu due to a lingering knee injury, reports Sportando.net

Amick On Martin, Fisher, Fesenko, Williams

In addition to reporting that Matt Barnes is closing in on a deal with the Clippers, SI.com's Sam Amick shared updates on a handful of other free agents in his latest piece. Let's dive in and round up a few highlights from the SI.com scribe:

  • Most, if not all, of the teams interested in Kenyon Martin only have interest at the veteran's minimum. The Lakers and Celtics were among the teams in play earlier in the offseason, but now Amick wonders if Martin will wait until midseason or even retire if he doesn't find a situation he likes.
  • Derek Fisher may be in the same boat as Martin, with retirement or signing halfway through the season both potentially in play. Fisher turned down an offer from the Bulls before Chicago signed Nate Robinson, and the chances of the veteran point guard returning to the Thunder are "remote."
  • Kyrylo Fesenko is scheduled to work out with the Spurs next week, and may work out for the Cavaliers after that. The Hawks and Heat have also been in touch with the big man.
  • The Pistons will work out Terrence Williams this week. The Mavericks and Celtics are also believed to have interest in Williams.

Latest On Michael Redd

After seeing his playing time and production decline significantly due to injuries during his previous three seasons, Michael Redd had a bit of a bounceback year in Phoenix in 2011/12, averaging 8.2 points in just 15.1 minutes per game. Those numbers should be enough to earn him another NBA contract, and according to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, there are a number of potential suitors in play. While Amico says the Cavs don't have interest, he lists the Nuggets, Wizards, Grizzlies, Bulls, and Thunder as possible fits (Sulia link).

I outlined yesterday why the Nuggets could use a shooter, and I could see the Wizards and Grizzlies wanting to add a little more size at the two. While we heard of the Bulls' interest earlier in the summer, I can't see them as a real possibility at this point, considering their cap situation — they'd have to trade away a player before they'd even have room to sign Redd. As for the Thunder, they could add one more backcourt player to replace Derek Fisher, as Amico notes, adding that he wouldn't be surprised to see Fisher end up in San Antonio.

Redd is probably unlikely to land more than a minimum-salary deal this offseason, which may limit his earnings, but should open up plenty of options. While a number of teams no longer have cap space or mid-level exceptions available, clubs can use the minimum salary exception as many times as they like.

Free Agent Rumors: Wallace, Grizzlies, Fisher

We're into the home stretch of the July moratorium, and it won't be long before all the moves that have been agreed upon in the last week are made official. In the meantime, teams have two more days to prepare for the next stage of free agency, and the rumors continue to swirl. You can track all of the contract agreements to date using our Free Agent Tracker, and you can follow many of today's free agent rumors right here, with the latest up top….

  • There's a "pretty good chance" that Ben Wallace will return to the Pistons next season, a source tells Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News.
  • A source told The Commercial Appeal (via Twitter) that it's unlikely that the Grizzlies will sign Russian guard Alexey Shved.  Shved allegedly received offers from the Grizzlies, Cavs, and T'Wolves.
  • However, the Grizzlies are working to bring veteran guard Willie Green to Memphis, The Commercial Appeal tweets.  The soon-to-be 31-year-old averaged 7.6 PPG last year for the Hawks.

Earlier updates:

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Odds & Ends: Hinrich, Bulls, Meeks, Mayo, Tolliver

Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago reported earlier that the Bucks presented Kirk Hinrich with an offer of about $4 MM per year, while the Bulls have made an offer somewhere between the veteran's minimum and around $2 MM per year. The proposed length of either deal is still unknown. Although the Bulls have been relatively quiet at this point during the offseason, Sam thinks that Chicago could eventually become financially viable for free agent point guards such as Ramon Sessions, Raymond Felton, Jerryd Bayless, and Delonte West, who could be available if they are not acquired during the first wave of free agent signings. Derek Fisher and Jonny Flynn were also mentioned as potential additions.                                                                                                 
We are currently less than four days away from the end of the NBA's moratorium period, and here is the rest of what we've heard around the league this evening…
  • Ersan Ilyasova plans to meet with Bucks owner Herb Kohl on Tuesday, which is seen as an important opportunity in the team's effort to retain the 6'10'' forward (Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times reports). Earlier this week, we reported that Milwaukee offered a deal worth around $40MM over five years.

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Free Agent Rumors: Redd, Camby, Stiemsma

Brandon Roy, Jason Kidd, and Jamal Crawford were among the players to reach agreements with new clubs yesterday, while Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lin agreed to lucrative offer sheets that their current teams are expected to match. What will Friday bring? Here are the latest rumors on a number of free agents still on the market:

Earlier updates:

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Bulls Rumors: Hinrich, Asik, Roy, Fisher, Lucas

In case you missed it amidst tonight's flurry of free agent rumors, the Bulls are making Kirk Hinrich their top free agent target, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Johnson has more in a full report, adding that Hinrich will command most, if not all, of the team's $3MM mini mid-level exception. Hinrich may not be altogether exciting for Bulls fans, but they haven't stopped their pursuit of others, including Brandon Roy, and GM Gar Forman left open the possibility the team could match the Rockets' backloaded offer for Omer Asik, which will be officially tendered on July 11th. "I'm not going to talk about any type of negotiation or anything contractually until we see something," the GM said. "We've made it clear we value Omer and it's been our goal that Omer would stay with the Bulls." Johnson has more out of Chicago, and we've got the highlights here:

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Odds & Ends: Magic, Wizards, Riley, Lin

In a tweet, Yahoo! Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Brian Shaw, Mike Malone, and Steve Clifford are three current coaching assistants who will be considered for the Magic's still vacant head coaching position. Here are a few more Wednesday evening odds and ends….

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Odds & Ends: Crawford, Warriors, Seattle, Bulls

The Lakers made history on this day 11 years ago when they beat the Sixers 108-96 to claim the NBA championship with the highest playoff winning percentage of all time at 93.8%, according to Hoopedia. Led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles went 15-1 in the playoffs by sweeping the Trail Blazers, Kings and Spurs before losing just once to Philadelphia. Let's take a look around the league to catch up on the latest news and stories making headlines…

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Atlantic Notes: Raptors, KG, Allen, Fisher, Knicks

We already rounded up a number of updates on the 76ers this morning, as the team begins to search for a replacement for Rod Thorn and weighs how to handle its free agents. Now, let's catch up on a few of their Atlantic Division rivals, with updates on the Raptors' draft workouts, a Celtic undergoing surgery, and a potential free agent target for the Knicks….

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