The Clippers had a "positive meeting" with Jamal Crawford in Los Angeles and made the former Blazer a contract offer, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Crawford is still considering a handful of other teams, however, including the Timberwolves, 76ers, Grizzlies, and Suns. Here are a few more Wednesday morning Clippers items:
The Clippers, who'll meet Tuesday with Jamal Crawford, plan to make him an offer for the $5MM mid-level exception, and will offer Chauncey Billups a one-year, $4MM contract, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. The team is also eyeing center Ryan Hollins.
The Celtics have officially signed Ryan Hollins and waived Chris Wilcox, according a team release. The moves leave Boston with a full roster of 15 players.
Hollins, 27, was waived by Cleveland earlier this week. The 7'0" center has struggled this season, averaging 3.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 24 games for the Cavaliers. However, the Celtics were in need of frontcourt depth, having lost Wilcox to a heart condition and Jermaine O'Neal to season-ending wrist surgery. Wilcox was facing unrestricted free agency at season's end, so Boston will just have to pay his salary for the rest of 2011/12.
A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com first reported that the Celtics were expected to land Hollins, while USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt reported an agreement had been reached.
2:54pm: The Celtics will sign Hollins after he clears waivers and passes a physical, tweets USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt. If Hollins still needs to pass through waivers, the signing is far from official, as we learned with J.J. Hickson. But it appears Boston will land Hollins later today.
1:43pm: The Celtics are working on a contract for the recently waived Ryan Hollins, and are expected to cut Chris Wilcox if they land Hollins, reports A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (via Twitter).
Hollins, 27, parted ways with the Cavaliers earlier this week in a move Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal characterized as a mutual decision. The Celtics, in need of a big man after losing Jermaine O’Neal for the season and missing out on Ronny Turiaf, were reported to be the frontrunners to land Hollins. Blakely adds that the Celtics may continue to search for a big man even if they sign Hollins (Twitter link).
Wilcox is sidelined for the rest of the season due to a heart issue which required surgery. Cutting him would open up a roster spot for the Celtics, though his $3MM cap figure for this year would remain on the team’s books. Wilcox is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
The Boston Herald is reporting that the Celtics are considered by league sources to be the frontrunners to land free agent center Ryan Hollins when he clears waivers.
Hollins was waived on Tuesday by the Cavaliers, and the Celtics have been rumored to be interested, especially in light of the news that Jermaine O'Neal will miss the remainder of the season.
Hollins, 27, averaged 3.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 24 games with the Cavaliers this season. He is in the final year of a three-year deal worth $7MM, and is making $2.4MM this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Boris Diaw is the latest player to be bought out by his team, as he and the Bobcats parted ways today. Rumors continue to swirl about where he and other free-agents-to-be could land, with the latest report suggesting Diaw could be headed for San Antonio. Here are the most recent updates on where bought-out players could sign, and who might receive a buyout next:
- J.J. Hickson is still expected to sign with the Warriors if and when he clears waivers, tweets SI.com's Sam Amick.
- In addition to sharing a few notes on what the Cavaliers' offseason could bring, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio provides an update on Ryan Hollins in his weekly chat — the big man is drawing interest from the Celtics and Mavericks, according to Amico.
- Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star adds the Pacers to the list of potential suitors for Hollins (Twitter link).
- Brian Cook is unlikely to pursue a buyout from the Wizards, his agent tells Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
8:16 pm: The decision to part ways was mutual, writes Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. Lloyd also characterizes the move as a buyout, meaning Hollins was motivated enough to leave the team that he was willing to give back a part of his $2.48MM salary.
11:56am: The Cavaliers have placed Ryan Hollins on waivers, the team announced today. The move reduces Cleveland's roster to 14 players.
The Cavs have been busy since Thursday's trade deadline, adding guards Donald Sloan and Manny Harris on rest-of-season contracts, and waiving Jason Kapono. The Hollins move is a little surprising — although the 27-year-old wasn't a key contributor for Cleveland, he was averaging 15+ MPG this season, and has a cap figure of $2.48MM in the final season of a three-year contract.
Hollins will join J.J. Hickson and Ronny Turiaf on the big man market as a potential target for contenders. Though he's shown flashes of promise in the past, the 7'0" center struggled this season, averaging 3.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and just 7.0 PER in his 24 games.
Cleveland will look for another big man to fill out its roster, according to the Plain Dealer (Twitter link).