Gilbert Arenas Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southwest Notes: Arenas, Camby, Smith, Mills

March 22nd, 2012 at 9:48am CST by Luke Adams

Here's the latest out of the Southwest, the only division in the NBA that would send four teams to the playoffs if the season ended today:

Gilbert Arenas, recently signed by the Grizzlies, spoke to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal about a number of topics in a lengthy interview. Arenas says that in addition to the Grizzlies and Lakers, the Hawks and Nets also had interest in him.
Another new addition, Marcus Camby, brings "a different vibe" to the Rockets, coach Kevin McHale told Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.
The Rockets assigned Greg Smith to their D-League affiliate yesterday, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston.
Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News noticed the Spurs listed a "Mills" as one of their inactive players on the official scoresheet for last night's game, and wonders if the team has finalized its rumored deal with Patrick Mills.

Odds & Ends: Kaman, Gee, Arenas

March 21st, 2012 at 8:23pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Wednesday night:

NBA.com's David Aldridge reports (via Twitter) that the Hornets' stated plan to finish out the season with Chris Kaman, rather than pursuing a buyout, has not changed.
Cavaliers coach Byron Scott told the Plain-Dealer's Tom Reed (Twitter link) that the team views Alonzo Gee as a long-term piece going forward. Gee is set to become a restricted free agent this summer.
Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace told radio host Chris Vernon (Twitter link) that the seed for his signing of Gilbert Arenas was planted by a blog post that was sent to him.

Grizzlies Sign Gilbert Arenas

March 20th, 2012 at 12:55pm CST by Luke Adams

The Grizzles have officially signed Gilbert Arenas, reports TNT's David Aldridge (on Twitter). Arenas agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum salary with Memphis, and had been scheduled to take his physical today.

Arenas worked out for both the Grizzlies and Lakers this season, in the hopes of returning to the NBA. The 30-year-old continues to be paid by the Magic, who amnestied him in December with three years and $62MM+ remaining on his contract. Though Arenas posted 22.6 PPG and 18.7 PER for the Wizards just two seasons ago, his numbers took a huge hit last year, falling to 10.8 PPG and 10.8 PER in 70 games with Washington and Orlando.

The Grizzlies figure to have Arenas work off the bench behind Mike Conley at the point. The team won't need to make a corresponding move, as it had two open roster spots available.

Kyler On Arenas, Hickson, Turiaf, Fisher, Powell

March 20th, 2012 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

In his latest NBA AM piece for HoopsWorld, Steve Kyler checks in on a few free agents and free-agents-to-be, providing updates on their potential destinations. Let's round up the highlights….

Gilbert Arenas is expected to take a physical and finalize his deal with the Grizzlies today.
The Pacers, Cavaliers, and Raptors, who all have enough cap space to easily absorb J.J. Hickson's $2.35MM salary, won't be placing waiver claims.
A number of teams are interested in Ronny Turiaf but "word is" the forward will likely decide between the Celtics and Heat. Like Hickson, he doesn't figure to be claimed on waivers by clubs with cap space.
The Lakers have extended an offer to Derek Fisher to join the team's basketball operations staff. However, it doesn't appear Fisher is ready to retire just yet. We heard earlier today that the Thunder and Heat are the favorites to land the longtime Laker.
Josh Powell is drawing interest from the Suns and Celtics, as Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld reported last night. I believe Powell signed in Switzerland late in February, and I haven't seen any reports that indicate he's parted ways with Neuchatel. The Swiss regular season has ended though, so perhaps Powell is lining up an NBA job for when he returns. Since he hasn't played for an NBA team this season, he can sign after March 23rd and still be eligible for the postseason.

Grizzlies Intend To Sign Gilbert Arenas

March 19th, 2012 at 5:25pm CST by Luke Adams

5:25pm: The Grizzlies are on the verge of signing Arenas and the guard will sign a one-year deal for the prorated portion of the veteran's minimum, sources told Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com.

4:56pm: Gilbert Arenas worked out for the Grizzlies today and was impressive enough that the team is planning to sign him for the remainder of the season, reports Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

According to Tillery, Arenas is scheduled to take a physical later today. If he passes it and agrees to accept a pro-rated portion of the veteran's minimum salary, Memphis will bring him aboard.

Arenas, 30, was amnestied by the Magic prior to the season and hasn't played in the NBA since then. He worked out for the Lakers earlier this year, but Los Angeles decided not to sign him. If Arenas joins the Grizzlies, Memphis won't need to make a corresponding move, since the team currently has two open roster spots.

Arenas To Work Out For Memphis

March 18th, 2012 at 11:38am CST by Daniel Seco

Former Wizards star Gilbert Arenas will work out for the Grizzlies on Monday with hopes of securing a contract, reports Michael Lee of The Washington Post. The former All-Star point guard most recently worked out for the Lakers in February, but was not tendered a contract. Arenas, 30, was waived under the amnesty provision by the Magic in the offseason and has not played anywhere else since then.

Thanks to platelet-rich plasma therapy, Arenas is reported to be feeling healthy and in good shape after multiple seasons in which his conditioning had been questioned. Arenas struggled during the 2010/2011 season as he only averaged 10.8 PPG, far below his career average of 21.2 PPG. The Grizzlies would potentially use Arenas as a backup point guard to spell Mike Conley as the team looks ahead to the playoffs.

Sixers Acquire Sam Young

March 15th, 2012 at 10:34am CST by Luke Adams

The 76ers have acquired Sam Young from the Grizzlies, reports Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News. Memphis receives the rights to former second-rounder Ricky Sanchez, who is currently playing in Argentina, reports Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. The Sixers confirmed the move in a press release.

"Sam preferred another location because he wasn’t playing," Memphis GM Chris Wallace told Tillery. "Sam earned his keep around here and is clearly an NBA player. He was a guy who was a big part of us being able to be successful when Rudy Gay went down last year. But teams evolve."

The move isn't entirely unexpected for Memphis, since the team had been sitting barely above the luxury tax line. Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reported yesterday that the Grizzlies were looking to move Young to sneak below that threshold. Sanchez, who was drafted with the 35th overall pick in 2005, "will never wear a Grizzlies uniform," according to Tillery. Tillery also points out (via Twitter) that the Grizzlies could use the savings to pursue Gilbert Arenas.

For the Sixers, they'll likely take on Young's salary using part of the traded player exception they acquired when they dealt Marreese Speights to Memphis earlier this season. Young's cap figure for this season, the final year of his contract, is $947,800.

In 21 games for the Grizzlies this year, Young has played just 11.4 MPG, averaging 3.5 PPG and 10.6 PER.

Grizzlies Interested In Gilbert Arenas

March 14th, 2012 at 4:08pm CST by Luke Adams

With everyone else focused on trades, the Grizzlies are keeping an eye on the free agent market. According to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Memphis is exploring the possibility of signing Gilbert Arenas.

Tillery says the two sides have mutual interest, though no deal will be made until the Grizzlies see Arenas work out. A source tells Tillery that Arenas and the Grizz are working to schedule a meeting.

I'm a little surprised that Memphis would be willing to bring on a free agent, considering the team currently sits barely above the luxury tax line. I expected the club to try to make a move prior to tomorrow's trade deadline to get below that threshold, but perhaps it's not a major concern.

Arenas, who was amnestied by the Magic before the season, has also drawn interest from the Lakers.

Amick On Dwight, Celtics, Crawford

March 3rd, 2012 at 7:57pm CST by Sean Highkin

SI.com's Sam Amick has a roundup of the latest crop of NBA trade rumors, touching on a variety of topics. Here are the highlights:

There is a distinct possibility that the Magic will opt not to trade Dwight Howard, either because they don't like the offers out there or because they believe they can convince the superstar center to stay.
Nets GM Billy King believes it will be easier to land Howard through trade than via free agency, because of the difference in money the team will be able to offer.
The Warriors are still said to be interested in trading for Howard, even as a rental, and convincing him to stick around.
Ray Allen is more likely to be moved by March 15 than Rajon Rondo, but a deal with the Clippers is unlikely. The Celtics are asking for young talent and picks, which is more than most teams are likely to want to give up for the 36-year-old Allen.
Amick suggests Jamal Crawford as a trade possibility for the Clippers or any other team looking for help at the shooting guard position. He believes Crawford may be available because of the Blazers' struggles and his dissatisfaction with Nate McMillan playing him at point guard.
The Lakers continue to monitor Michael Beasley and Ramon Sessions, and the future of Pau Gasol is still uncertain.
It is possible that Wilson Chandler will spend the rest of the season overseas rather than re-sign with the Nuggets, and instead test free agency this summer.
The market is still slow for Gilbert Arenas, who is working out in Orlando in hopes that a team will sign him.

Pacific Notes: Nash, Hinrich, Arenas

February 29th, 2012 at 7:40pm CST by Chuck Myron

The tightest divisional race in the NBA is in the Pacific, where the Clippers lead the Lakers by a single game. As packed together as the Western Conference is, that single game would represent the difference between the third seed and the sixth seed if the playoffs began today. Here's what's happening in the far west:

Steve Nash and Lamar Odom could be trading places, tweets Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The move would get the slumping Odom closer to his beloved L.A. beaches and reunite Nash with his old friend Dirk Nowitzki. The rumor comes as the Suns and Nash continue to dance around the issue of a trade, as both player and team are not interested in a deal unless the other asks first. The Mavs would have to throw a little extra into the deal to make the salaries match up under cap rules.
The Lakers have inquired about Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich, according to a tweet from Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Hinrich is averaging career lows across the board, including his 19.9 MPG, after missing the first month of the season with a left shoulder injury. At 31, though, he's still probably closer to his prime than either Steve Blake, 32, or Derek Fisher, 37, the Lakers' pair of veteran point guards.
Rumors of Gilbert Arenas joining the Lakers have slowed down of late, and that's because he wants to make sure he's in top condition first, tweets Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. Arenas doesn't want to ruin what could be his last chance in the NBA, Kyler says.
The city of Sacramento will contribute $255.53MM to the new arena, the total cost of which has been bumped up to $391MM, according to details of the deal reached Monday, write Tony Bizjak, Ryan Lillis and Dale Kasler of The Sacramento Bee. The city council will vote to approve the terms of the plan agreed to by city officials, the Kings, the NBA and several private companies.
Brian Kamenetzky of ESPN Los Angeles says the report that the Lakers turned down an offer of Michael Beasley because of tax concerns demonstrates how the team will be limited like never before under the new collective bargaining agreement.