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Trail Blazers Sign Mo Williams

August 8th, 2013 at 11:07am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 11:07am: The Blazers have officially signed Williams, the team announced today in a press release.

WEDNESDAY, 1:14pm: The Trail Blazers have reached an agreement on a contract with free agent guard Mo Williams, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). It'll be a two-year deal worth about $5.6MM, tweets Wojnarowski, while Ken Berger of CBS Sports.com adds (via Twitter) that the second year will be a player option. ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman reported earlier this afternoon that Williams was expected to make his decision as soon as today.

Williams' decision comes as something of a surprise, since the Blazers hadn't been linked to the veteran in recent weeks — the Grizzlies, Heat, and Knicks had been viewed as a few of his primary suitors. Portland also has plenty of backcourt depth already, with Damian Lillard starting at the point and Wesley Matthews at the two. Earl Watson, C.J. McCollum, Terrel Harris, Allen Crabbe, Will Barton, and even Dorell Wright can also play one or both guard positions.

Still, considering the bench was Portland's Achilles heel last year, adding another veteran contributor like Williams to the rotation can't be a bad thing. I'd assume his deal will actually be closer to $5.42MM for two years, since the team is capped out. If the 30-year-old agreed to sign for the room exception, he'll earn about $2.65MM in 2013/14, with an option worth about $2.77MM for the following season.

In 2012/13 with the Jazz, Williams started all 46 games he played for the team, averaging 12.9 PPG and 6.2 APG to go along with shooting percentages of .430/.383/.882. The Blazers will be the fifth team Williams has played for in his NBA career. The 10-year veteran also had two stints in Utah to go along with stops with the Bucks, Cavs, and Clippers.

The agreement with Williams looks like bad news for Harris, who is on a non-guaranteed deal and facing a drug-related suspension. Williams will be Portland's 16th player under contract, so Harris appears to be the odd man out for when the team finalizes its 15-man roster. Teams can carry up to 20 players during the offseason, so he doesn't need to be cut quite yet, but it'd be a surprise if Harris was on Portland's opening night roster.

Mo Williams Close To Making Decision

August 7th, 2013 at 12:55pm CST by Luke Adams

More than half of you voted Mo Williams the best unrestricted free agent still on the market over the weekend, and it appears the veteran guard is close to coming off the board. ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman reports (via Twitter) that Williams could decide on where he'll sign as soon as today.

The Grizzlies are among the teams in the mix for Williams, having met with him in Memphis last week. Memphis could offer the 30-year-old part of its mid-level exception, but Goodman tweets that he doesn't believe Williams is leaning toward choosing the Grizz.

Eastern Conference teams like the Heat and Knicks have also been cited as suitors, even though they have limited financial flexibility. Miami could offer all or some of its mini mid-level exception (worth $3.18MM), while New York could only offer the veteran's minimum. Williams is reportedly open to taking a discount to join a contender though.

When Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors examined Williams' free agent stock back in April, he predicted that the former Jazz point guard could receive a deal worth about $5MM annually, but it appears Williams will be hard-pressed to find a starting salary that high, wherever he decides to sign.

Latest On Mo Williams, Beno Udrih

August 4th, 2013 at 12:31pm CST by Chuck Myron

Mo Williams and Beno Udrih, a pair of experienced point guards used to making much more than the minimum salary, remain on the market into August, and the Grizzlies are in discussions with both, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Knicks, who can offer only the minimum, are also still in the mix for Udrih, but New York could be a longshot, since Udrih still hopes he can make more than that, Stein says (Twitter link). The Knicks have also reportedly been eyeing Williams.

Agent Mark Cornstein identified the Knicks on Friday as one of a handful of teams with interest in Udrih. The 31-year-old finished last season with the Magic after he was part of the J.J. Redick trade at the deadline. He made $7.37MM in the final season of a contract he signed for the mid-level exception back in 2008, but even if he gets more than the minimum, he almost certainly won't approach last year's salary.

Williams made $8.5MM last year with the Jazz, and he, too, is seeking more than the minimum. Still, the Mark Bartelstein client is open to taking a discount to sign with a contender, and has identified the Heat as his preferred destination if offers from other clubs don't get any better. The Heat could offer the $3.183MM taxpayer's mid-level exception. The Grizzlies have nearly all of their $5.15MM non-taxpayer's mid-level available to outbid Miami and the Knicks, and Williams met with Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien on Tuesday.

Beno Udrih Drawing Interest From Five Teams

August 2nd, 2013 at 2:19pm CST by Zachary Links

2:19pm: The Grizzlies are expressing interest in Udrih, according to Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal (on Twitter). The club is also considering fellow free agent guard Mo Williams.

10:15am: About five teams still have interest in free agent point guard Beno Udrih, including the Knicks, agent Marc Cornstein told Marc Berman of the New York Post (Sulia link). Berman speculates that the Knicks are probably longshots because they only have the $1.4MM veteran’s minimum to offer, but Cornstein wouldn’t tip his hand one way or another.

“If he signs with the Knicks the reasons will not be because of the money,’’ Cornstein said. “It would be a disservice to say they’re long shots or favorites. He’s examining the situations.’’

The Knicks have missed out on several point guard targets this summer and it could be difficult to convince Udrih, who made $7MM last season, to take such a substantial pay cut. If they can’t lure Udrih to New York, they could turn to NYC native Sebastian Telfair since there is mutual interest on that front. The Knicks are in search of a third point guard to put behind Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni thanks to Jason Kidd‘s departure.

Udrih has served as a backup over the last two seasons for the Bucks and Magic, averaging 8.2 PPG, 4.6 APG, and a 14.2 PER in 66 total games for the two teams in 2012/13.

Atlantic Rumors: Iverson, Pargo, Williams, West

August 1st, 2013 at 7:50pm CST by Chuck Myron

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reported last week that Celtics second-round pick Colton Iverson had agreed to a deal with Besiktas of Turkey, but today Washburn tweets that Boston's release of Shavlik Randolph could clear the way for Iverson to join the Celtics this season. The C's would have to open up another roster space, as Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times points out (via Twitter), but Washburn says the team plans additional moves and needs big men (Twitter link). They're not the only Atlantic Division team looking to add to its roster, as we detail:

The Knicks are looking for a point guard, and their latest target appears to be 33-year-old Jannero Pargo. A source tells Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com that New York and the Mark Bartelstein client have entered talks (Twitter link).
Mo Williams had been another possibility, but he's looking for a better haul than the minimum salary, which puts the Knicks out of the running, Zwerling tweets. The Grizzlies and Heat look like the strongest suitors for Williams.
The Knicks are also up against the Grizzlies in the pursuit of Delonte West, who tells Washburn that he'd be willing to accept a non-guaranteed deal (Twitter link).
As we passed along earlier today, Zach Links of Hoops Rumors heard from Andrei Kirilenko as part of a conference call on the veteran forward's decision to take a discount to sign with the Nets.

Knicks Rumors: Brown, Udrih, Williams, West

August 1st, 2013 at 12:29pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard yesterday that the Knicks, in their search for a third point guard, are hoping to convince veteran free agent Beno Udrih to sign for the minimum and come to New York. That's not the only iron the team has in the fire though. Here's the latest on the Knicks:

Although Bobby Brown reached an agreement with China's Dongguan Leopards, the deal has an August 15th NBA opt-out date, giving him two weeks to find an NBA offer he likes. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Brown's first choice would be to sign with the Knicks, even though the minimum salary he could make in New York would be about half of the $1MM he'd earn in China.
Before deciding whether to circle back to Brown, the Knicks are eyeing veteran options like Udrih and Mo Williams. However, if Williams ends up settling for a minimum-salary contract, he's more likely to join the Heat, says Berman.
Despite previous inquiries, the Knicks are no longer considering Delonte West, a source tells Berman.
Berman adds that the Knicks are expected to invite point guard Toure Murry to training camp after a successful Summer League run.
Noting that Lamar Odom is still undecided on where he'll play in 2013/14, Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com wonders (via Twitter) if the Knicks would be a fit, with New York in the market for a big.

Odds & Ends: Harrington, Ebanks, Mo Williams

July 30th, 2013 at 2:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Al Harrington recognizes that he's a candidate to be traded or bought out by the Magic, but tells Sam Amick of USA Today that he's healthier and believes he can still contribute, wherever he lands.

"Whatever situation I can get to where I can help a team win, that's what I want to do," Harrington said. "I don't want to play 36 minutes or none of that. Play 20, 25 minutes, just help mentor the young guys and stuff like that."

Here's more from around the NBA:

Former Laker Devin Ebanks has received interest from the Hawks, Bucks, Bobcats, and Nuggets, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
In his latest column on the Suns, Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic says that agent Arn Tellem was "five minutes away" from a deal for J.J. Redick with another team before the Suns and Clippers proposed the three-team trade that sent him to Los Angeles. Coro also notes that the Pacers had expressed interest in Luis Scola for months before acquiring him.
Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien met with Mo Williams today in Memphis, tweets Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Within an excellent piece on the Thunder, Grantland's Zach Lowe shares a few interesting details on Kevin Durant's max contract and Oklahoma City's cap and tax situation.

Western Notes: Aldridge, Griffin, Williams, Grizzlies

July 29th, 2013 at 8:42pm CST by Zachary Links

In today's chat, Luke Adams gave the Warriors credit for an aggressive offseason, but also noted that they'll have a tough hill to climb given the competition in the West this season. In his view, the best case scenario for Golden State is to capture the third seed with the bottom being something resembling the Lakers' 2012/13 campaign – lots of injuries and fighting just to squeak into the playoffs. The Warriors' summer saw them add Andre Iguodala, Toney Douglas, Marreese Speights, and Jermaine O'Neal while sending $24MM+ in expiring contracts (Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush) to the Jazz. Here's more from the Western Conference..

Blazers GM Neil Olshey explored the possibility of a LaMarcus Aldridge-for-Blake Griffin swap with the Clippers this summer, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. However, the talks didn't go anywhere. Olshey, of course, was the Clips' assistant GM when the team drafted Griffin. It's not surprising to hear that Olshey put out feelers for such a deal given the questions surrounding Aldridge's future in Portland.
Free agent Mo Williams is flying in to meet with the Grizzlies' front office tonight, tweets Chris Vernon of 92.9 ESPN Radio. Late last week we learned that Memphis is the mix for the guard while the Heat are also keeping an eye on him.
There are plenty of obstacles in the way of a positive return to the NBA for Pelicans target Greg Oden, but as one team official tracking Oden told Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, one can't help but get excited about a big man who can move as well as he can. "He's not that far off microfracture [surgery]," a team executive said in regard to the former No. 1 overall pick. "He still has a way to go to getting his knee where it needs to be, but there are possibilities."

Grizzlies In The Mix For Mo Williams

July 27th, 2013 at 6:38pm CST by Spencer Lund

Unrestricted free agent, Mo Williams, has yet to make a decision about where he'll sign for next season, but Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears the Grizzlies are firmly in the mix for the veteran point guard who is unexpectedly still available.

Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld says the Heat are also keeping an eye on the veteran guard, who has drawn interest from a number of other clubs. Last week, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld said that Williams was prepared to take a discount to sign with a contender like the Heat, but Williams is still looking to add a "solid, multiyear offer" before signing a one-year deal with a contender, added Kyler.

Williams is represented by Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports & Entertainment, according to Hoops Rumors' Agency Database.

Mo averaged 12.8 PPG in 30.8 MPG last season with the Jazz, while shooting 43 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from behind the arc. So a contender who needs shooting–like the Grizzlies–would love to add the 10-year vet.

Eastern Notes: Wall, Cartier Martin, Antic

July 25th, 2013 at 7:47pm CST by Ryan Raroque

SB Nation's Tom Ziller isn't totally convinced that the Wizards need to offer a maximum contract to John Wall this summer, pointing out that at worst, he'd be no more expensive to retain as a restricted free agent one year from now. He mentions Stephen Curry and Jrue Holiday as perfect examples where their respective teams were able to get good discounts by negotiating early extensions, but in Washington's case, offering a max extension now would eliminate potential negotiating leverage next summer in the event that Wall has a subpar season in 2013-14. Though Ziller understands why Wall deserves a maximum contract now, he argues that there'd be little risk and tangible potential benefit in waiting until next year to offer that type of deal.

Here are a few more news and notes out of the Eastern Conference:

In addition to their interest in free agent center Greg Oden, the Heat are also keeping their eye on Mo Williams, says Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld.
Emiliano Carchia of Sportando passes along a report that Cartier Martin is close to a deal with Olympiacos (hat tip to Eurohoops). The 28-year-old swingman spent last season with the Wizards.
Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that new Hawks addition Pero Antic had previously passed up an offer to join the Magic in 2008.
After bringing back Kenyon Martin, the Knicks are still in the market for one more point guard and possibly another big man, notes Newsday's Al Iannazzone.
Josh Newman of SNYNets.com reports that Brooklyn forward Tornike Shengelia will have surgery next Wednesday to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee and will most likely miss the FIBA Eurobasket Games in September at the very least.
With the departure of Mike Miller, Heat reserve James Jones is looking for an opportunity at an expanded role next season (NBA.com via the Associated Press).