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

August 7th, 2012 at 9:06pm CST by Ryan Raroque

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.

Odds & Ends: Harden, Lin, Brooks, Hawks, Bulls

July 27th, 2012 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this month, Kevin Durant tweeted that teammate James Harden wouldn't be "hitting the market" next summer, suggesting the Thunder would lock Harden up to a long-term extension before then. Today, he backed off that assertion, as Sean Deveney of the Sporting News tweets. "I may be wrong," said Durant. "I don’t sign contracts, I don’t negotiate contracts."

An extension for Harden is certainly one of the Thunder's top priorities this offseason, but the reigning Sixth Man of the Year will be a restricted, rather than unrestricted, free agent next summer, so the team can afford to exercise a little patience for now. Here are a few more Friday notes from around the NBA:

Carmelo Anthony dismissed the notion that he helped push Jeremy Lin out of New York, telling Frank Isola of the New York Daily News that he was one of Lin's "true supporters."
According to a Sports Exchange report (link via HoopsWorld), Rockets GM Daryl Morey believed his offer sheets to Lin and Omer Asik would be matched by their respective clubs.
Kings coach Keith Smart tells Lang Greene of HoopsWorld that he was surprised Sacramento was able to sign Aaron Brooks: "Based on what we had heard from his standpoint is that he had a contract on the table with a lot more than we could offer him. And yet knowing the situation where we have a team, we’re trying to develop to get ready to start being in playoff contention and he didn’t hesitate. He thought about it for a while and within a couple hours he called right back and said he wanted to be a King."
Josh Smith has long been rumored to be on the trade block, but new Hawks GM Danny Ferry sounds open to building around the 26-year-old. "He's excited for next season," Ferry said of Smith. "We've talked about how we're going to play. We've talked about other players. His ideas, my ideas. I'm just trying to establish a relationship" (link via Yahoo! Sports).
Sam Smith fields a number of questions about the Bulls' offseason and future plans in his latest mailbag for Bulls.com.

Odds & Ends: Gordon, Cavaliers, Vazquez

July 17th, 2012 at 6:51pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Eric Gordon may have to win back some of the fans in New Orleans this year after comments he made about his "heart" already being in Phoenix and not wanting the Hornets to match after the Suns signed him to an offer sheet. Marc J. Spears of Yahoo elaborates on Gordon's thoughts throughout the free agency process and says that the Gordon is now committed to leading a young New Orleans team moving forward. Spears also says that the 6'3 guard has the ability to opt out after the third season and become an unrestricted free agent. Here's more of the miscellaneous tidbits what we've heard this evening..

Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago discusses why the Bulls' title window will shrink over the next two seasons.
Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer describes the progress that Byron Mullens appears to be making with the Bobcats based on his performances at the Las Vegas Summer League.
76ers head coach Doug Collins says he feels "very good" about what the team has accomplished during this offseason, writes John Gonzalez of CSNPhilly.com.

Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated sat down with Hawks forward Josh Smith, who appears to be happy with the direction the team is going in. In a separate piece, Amick discusses the impact that the Kings' acquisition of Aaron Brooks will have on Jimmer Fredette's future in Sacramento.
Luis Scola talks about how excited he is to join the Suns (NBA.com report).
On the Mason and Ireland show on ESPN LA, Chris Broussard said that Dwight Howard likes Los Angeles but still has his heart set on Brooklyn.
Keith Langlois of Pistons.com does not think the team will use their amnesty this year (Twitter link).
Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com tweets that Will Barton's deal with the Trail Blazers is guaranteed for two years with a team option in the third year.
In an interview on NBA TV, coach Byron Scott said that the Cavaliers aren't desperate to add a veteran right now, and implied that he is ready to have his young players gain experience instead (Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio reports).
Iliana Limón Romero and Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel write that Fran Vazquez has agreed to a two-year deal (with a third-year option) to stay with Unicaja Málaga of the ACB and Euroleague. The deal does not have an opt-out clause, which ultimately prohibits the 6'10 big man from leaving for the NBA and joining the Magic until 2014-15 at the earliest. Orlando used their 11th overall selection in 2005 to select the Vazquez and currently own his draft rights.
Chris Haynes of CSNNW documentedDerrick Williams' thoughts on almost being traded to the Trail Blazers. The former 2nd overall pick of the Timberwolves says that the uncertainty had been giving him a "tough time".
According to head coach Doug Collins, the 76ers have received multiple trade offers for Andre Iguodala and rookie Moe Harkless (Tom Moore of PhillyBlurbs.com tweets).
Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld has the latest thoughts from Jermaine O'Neal, who says that he feels he has a lot left.
Mike Trudell of KCAL-9 in Los Angeles tweets that Lakers owner Jim Buss likes Robert Sacre, the team's 60th pick of last month's draft. Buss added that he has a good chance to make the team.
Tariq Lee of AZCentral.com writes about Charles Garcia's second opportunity to make it into the league with the Suns.

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Odds & Ends: Miles, Magic, Celtics, Hawks

July 9th, 2012 at 1:29pm CST by Luke Adams

With free agent news and rumors dominating the headlines over the last week, it's been easy to miss a number of other stories that have flown under the radar. One such story today: The Wizards have hired Don Newman as an assistant coach under Randy Wittman. A longtime NBA assistant coach, Newman has spent the last seven years on the Spurs' bench in San Antonio, and represents a solid hire for Washington.

Here are a few more Monday afternoon odds and ends from around the league….

Nets, Hawks Discussing Joe Johnson Trade

July 2nd, 2012 at 4:04pm CST by Chuck Myron

MONDAY, 4:04pm: Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star Ledger is hearing that a deal that would send Johnson to the Nets is "pretty much done," he says via Twitter.

SUNDAY,11:06pm: The Nets are now offering Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Williams, DeShawn Stevenson (via sign-and-trade) and a future first-round pick for Johnson, sources tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Sources say that the Nets are insisting that the trade includes at least one of their free agents via sign-and-trade – Stevenson or Gerald Green – in hopes of staying over the salary cap and keeping their MLE.

Stein adds that the Nets will only go ahead with the deal if it means keeping Deron Williams in Brooklyn.

The Nets would have to sign-and-trade Stevenson at a low number in order to make the numbers match up, tweets John Hollinger of ESPN.com.

9:45pm: The Nets are still trying to get a trade done for Johnson and hoping to get it resolved by mid-week, sources tell Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).

4:17pm: Atlanta has spoken with about 20 teams and is in at least a half dozen active discussions, a source tells Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).

3:47pm: The deal is in jeopardy as the Nets fear that they'll be surrendering too much financial flexibility in the trade as currently structured, according to Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN.com. Another major stumbling block is the Hawks' insistence on acquiring MarShon Brooks.

10:58am: The Nets and Hawks could reach a decision on a possible Johnson trade today, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski. If the two sides don't agree to a deal, Brooklyn figures to turn its attention to O.J. Mayo. Atlanta, meanwhile, is "much more focused" on moving Johnson than Josh Smith, tweets Wojnarowski.

SATURDAY, 8:34pm: The Nets and Hawks are in talks about a possible swap that would send Joe Johnson to Brooklyn, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Both sides are in talks on several fronts, and while no deal between the two teams is close, Atlanta and Brooklyn have "gone back and forth" on the possibility, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link).

Johnson has four years left on a massive six-year, $123.7MM contract, so any trade would have to involve a great deal of assets going to the Hawks in exchange. Since the Nets have only about $13.7MM in guaranteed contracts for next season, Brooklyn would have to engineer some sign-and-trades to make a swap for Johnson feasible. Deron Williams appears unlikely to be part of any Johnson deal, as Wojnarowski says the Nets' intent would be to pair Johnson in the backcourt with Williams, who's reportedly leaning toward re-signing with the team.

Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News says that no two NBA GMs are closer than Nets boss Billy King and new Hawks GM Danny Ferry, who played together in college at Duke. Bondy has wondered whether that relationship would lead to a trade, speculating it could involve Josh Smith instead (Twitter links). Zach Lowe of SI.com tweets that since the Nets currently have no one under a guaranteed contract for 2013/14, they could theoretically sign Williams, acquire Johnson and still have enough money left over for Dwight Howard, who's set to become a free agent next summer.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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Hawks Looking To Trade Without Paying Tax

June 29th, 2012 at 4:13pm CST by Zachary Links

Newly-appointed Hawks GM Danny Ferry will have to put together a team for next season without much financial flexibility. Atlanta doesn't want to venture into luxury tax territory, but that won't deter Ferry from making upgrades to the roster via trade, writes Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Southeast Rumors: Smith, Howard, Odom, Wizards

June 28th, 2012 at 5:38pm CST by Chuck Myron

We've heard Josh Smith's name surface numerous times this week in trade discussions, and Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports the Magic are interested in bringing Smith aboard to curry favor with Dwight Howard, who is friends with Smith. New Hawks GM Danny Ferry is reluctant to move Smith, Stein says, despite the fact the athletic forward has said he'd welcome a trade and is entering the final year of his contract. Here's more from around the Southeast Division as the draft draws near:

Rockets Rumors: Howard, Gay, Smith, Lowry

June 27th, 2012 at 8:35pm CST by Alex Lee

The amount of rumors circulating around the Houston Rockets is dizzying to say the least. They currently have picks 12, 16 and 18 after making two draft-related trades in the past few days. There are multiple rumors about them trying to move into the top five of tomorrow night's draft, most frequently being connected with the Kings at 5. They could plan to use that pick or they could be trying to stockpile picks to make a run at Dwight Howard. Right now, for us, it's a waiting game. Let's round up the latest Rockets rumors here:

Lakers Shopping Pau Gasol; Hawks Interested

June 27th, 2012 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

3:32pm: Chad Ford of ESPN.com hears from a league source that the Rockets are no longer pursuing Gasol, while Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio hears that it's still "very possible" Houston goes after Pau (Sulia link). Ken Berger of CBSSports.com also hears from a source that the Rockets have "cooled significantly" on Gasol. I'm guessing the 31-year-old is, at best, a Plan B or C for the Rockets at this point.

2:54pm: Bresnahan adds in another tweet that the Lakers also have interest in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who could be the target if the team moves Gasol in a deal for a top-five pick.

2:27pm: The Hawks have been pursuing Gasol, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). There's still nothing imminent, but Bresnahan says Josh Smith would be heading to the Lakers in any deal involving the two teams.

Rockets Rumors: D12, Martin, D-Will, Smith, Gay

June 26th, 2012 at 12:08pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Rockets and Timberwolves agreed to swap Chase Budinger for a first-round draft pick this morning, the T-Wolves' motives were clear, as Budinger gives the team a perimeter shooting threat it has lacked in recent years. For the Rockets though, the deal looked like the first in a series of bigger moves. We've heard that Houston is targeting Dwight Howard, or perhaps Josh Smith, but what exactly is the next step for GM Daryl Morey and the Rockets? Here's the latest from Sam Amick of SI.com and from Bill Ingram and Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld….