Louis Amundson

Panathinaikos Interested In Amundson

Free agent center Louis Amundson has drawn interest from Greece's Panathinaikos, according to SI.com's Sam Amick. (Sulia link) Amundson continues to seek an offer from an NBA team, and is confident his career will continue in the United States, but is weighing all his options. 

Last season as Indiana's backup center, the 6'9" Amundson played in 60 games, averaging 3.6PPG and 3.7RPG. Next season would be his seventh in the league, and as a reserve big man capable of defending in the post and doing his team's dirty work, Amundson should still hold some measured value.  

Amundson Talking With Bobcats, Knicks

The Bobcats and Knicks are looking at free agent forward Louis Amundson, a source close to the forward told Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports (via Twitter).  Tomasson’s source also says that it’s unlikely that he would go to Greece, even though Panathinaikos has been mentioned as a possibility.  Amundson’s people are concerned about how playing in Greece would affect his game after Josh Childress‘ dropoff.  

Amundson, 29, is said to be in the market for a deal in the vicinity of $3MM, which would either be the $3.09MM taxpayer’s mini-midlevel or the $2.575MM room exception.  However, the Knicks can only offer the 6’9″ forward a minimum contract.  Yesterday, Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com reported that Amundson was in discussions with a number of clubs.

Odds & Ends: Atkinson, Spurs, Macklin, Amundson

Knicks assistant coach Kenny Atkinson will be leaving New York and taking the same position with the Hawks, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley. Atkinson was a crucial cog in the development of Jeremy Lin. Here's more of what we're hearing from around the Association: 

  • With a report being released tonight that Spurs assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey might be heading to the Jazz to become their new general manager, Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News writes that other teams are gutting San Antonio's front office. 
  • Vernon Macklin's agent has informed Hoopshype.com that his client is currently drawing interest from the Nets, Suns, Bucks, Wizards, and Lakers. Macklin spent last season in Detroit, and is also drawing interest overseas, in Turkey and Greece. 
  • Free agent power forward Louis Amundson is in discussions with a number of teams, but has yet to make up his mind, Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com reports, adding that he's likely to sign for a team's mini mid-level exception (Twitter link). It's not clear whether Zwerling means the taxpayer's mini mid-level of $3.09MM or the room exception, a mini-midlevel of $2.575MM available to teams under the cap. However, the list of remaining mid-level exceptions that Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors put together Friday provides a hint. Only the Lakers have all of the taxpayer's mini mid-level available, and they're looking for backcourt help, meaning that if Amundson goes for a mini mid-level, it's likely to be the room exception currently held in full by nine teams. 
  • Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel ponders the merits of Dexter Pittman, 45th overall pick Justin Hamilton and free agent Mickell Gladness as reserve center options for the Heat. As Winderman points out, Pittman will almost assuredly be on the team, since his minimum-salary contract is guaranteed.
  • The Jazz starting lineup isn't set in stone, and Jody Genessy of the Deseret News handicaps the team's positional battles.
  • Sam Smith of Bulls.com catches up with recent Bulls signee Nazr Mohammed, a Chicago native who says he always dreamed for playing for his hometown team.

Zwerling On Andersen, Blatche, Amundson, White

Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork passed along news yesterday that Kenyon Martin isn't interested in signing for the minimum, and he's got more on a few power forwards today. Let's run down the highlights: 

  • Zwerling updates his story after hearing from Chris Andersen's high school coach, who told him the Birdman would love an opportunity with the Knicks, where he could reunite with former Nuggets teammates Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. Anderson is in talks with a few teams and will be ready come training camp after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee about a month ago, Zwerling adds.

Earlier updates:

  • Chris Andersen is open to signing for the veteran's minimum, after the Nuggets used the amnesty clause to waive the Birdman last month, Zwerling hears. That means the Knicks, who are limited to handing out minimum-salary deals, could be in play, though there's no word that Andersen is interested in heading to New York, Zwerling writes. Andersen is a client of CAA, the agency that represents coach Mike Woodson and several Knicks players.
  • A source close to Andray Blatche tells Zwerling that several teams are after the 6'11" free agent power forward. Blatche, like Andersen, was an amnesty casualty last month, when the Wizards let him go, and Zwerling says some "insiders" predict Blatche will sign a one-year deal with an up-and-coming team where he can be a starter, rehabilitate his image and command an eight-figure salary next summer. Blatche would likely have to make quite an impression this season to make that kind of money, however. Agent Andy Miller told Michael Lee of the Washington Post that teams have not yet made Blatche a significant offer this summer.
  • Zwerling also hears Louis Amundson and D.J. White are in the market for mini mid-level deals that would be close to what they made last season. Amundson drew $2.763MM from the Pacers in 2011/12, while White cleared just over $2MM from the Bobcats