Week in Review

It may be something of a longshot, but Paul George told reporters this week that he’s “holding out a little hope” for a return in 2014/15.  The Pacers star acknowledged that he doesn’t have any kind of timeline for his recovery and said that if he has to spend the year on the sidelines he’ll use the opportunity as a learning experience.  Here’s more from the week that was..

• Greg Monroe might accept the Pistons’ qualifying offer.  Meanwhile, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today says a sign-and-trade is still possible.
• The Pacers received a disabled player exception for George.
• Shawn Marion will sign with the Cavs.
• The Clippers and Doc Rivers will discuss an extension.
• Steve Ballmer officially became the owner of the Clippers.
• The Cavs are seriously considering Chauncey Billups.
• Thanasis Antetokounmpo turned down multiple European offers to attend training camp with the Knicks.
• The Raptors will sign Jordan Hamilton.
• Jason Collins is mulling retirement.
• Suns owner Robert Sarver doesn’t think the relationship between the club and Eric Bledsoe is in bad shape.
• Kevin Murphy and Dee Bost will join the Jazz for training camp
• The Kings signed Sim Bhullar.
• The Thunder have reached an agreement to sign Lance Thomas.
• The Jazz will sign Toure’ Murry.
• Former Magic guard E’Twaun Moore is expected to sign with the Bulls in the next few days.
• The Nuggets signed undrafted rookie Jerrelle Benimon.
• The Raptors are eyeing a D-League affiliate of their own and they’re in discussions with the Rochester RazorSharks of the PBL.
• Nolan Smith is headed to Turkey along with longtime NBA guard Carlos Arroyo.
• Orlando Johnson will play in Spain.
• Deonte Burton will join the Kings for camp.
• Ronald Roberts Jr. may or may not be joining the Sixers.
• Josh Childress is going down under.
• Diante Garrett will join the Blazers for camp.
• The Cavs signed Alex Kirk.

At long last, Kevin Love is on his way to Cleveland.  Love dominated headlines here on Hoops Rumors all summer long with rumors linking him to the Warriors, Celtics, Bulls, and a number of other teams.  However, LeBron James‘ decision to return to the Cavs changed everything and ever since, the Cavs have been in the lead to land the All-Star.  The deal will see Love heading to the Cavs, No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins and forward Thaddeus Young going to the Wolves, and last year’s top pick Anthony Bennett joining the 76ers.  Here’s more from the week that was..

• Shawn Marion is leaning heavily towards joining the Cavs.  The Pacers are making a strong push for him too.
• The Pacers will apply for the disabled player exception, meaning that Paul George has been ruled out for the season.
• Negotiations have stalled between the Pistons and Greg Monroe.
• The Spurs made history by naming Becky Hammon an assistant coach.
• Ray Allen denies that he’s leaning towards playing with the Cavs.  He also may or may not have decided to lace ’em up next season.
• The Clippers will work out several free agent centers including Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum.
• LeBron says he’s not going anywhere.
• The Knicks acquired Quincy Acy and Travis Outlaw from the Kings.
• The Knicks are still considering trading Pablo Prigioni.
• The Cavs offered up a first-round choice to the Nuggets for Timofey Mozgov.
• Chauncey Billups worked out for the Cavs.
• The Heat have reached a non-guaranteed deal with undrafted power forward Shawn Jones.
• The Cavs are thinking about E’Twaun Moore.
• DeAndre Daniels and an Australian club are getting close to a deal.
• Reggie Williams will join the Heat.
• The Warriors and former Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with a partial guarantee.
• The Pistons hired Quentin Richardson for their staff.
• Knicks 2014 second-round pick Thanasis Antetokounmpo is deciding between opportunities in Spain and Italy or heading to New York’s D-League affiliate in Westchester.
• The Heat signed Tyler Johnson.
• The Blazers have signed free agent small forward James Southerland.
• Former Pacers and Kings swingman Orlando Johnson is leaning toward taking a deal with Enel Brindisi of Italy.
• The Rockets and draft-and-stash prospect Kostas Papanikolaou have struck a deal.
• The Spurs have signed forward JaMychal Green.
• The Suns signed first-round pick Tyler Ennis.
• MarShon Brooks is headed to Italy.
• Roscoe Smith is going to camp with the Lakers.
• Keith Appling will be in camp with the Lakers as well.
• Former NBA lottery pick Hilton Armstrong has a deal with Besiktas of Turkey.
• Xavier Thames signed with a Spanish team.
• The 48th overall pick in this year’s draft is headed overseas, as Lamar Patterson has signed with Tofas Bursa of Turkey.
• James Anderson is headed to Lithuania.

Pacers swingman Paul George is likely to miss all of next season after suffering a horrific injury to his right leg early in Friday’s Team USA intra-squad scrimmage in Las Vegas.  The injury occurred when George attempted to block a transition layup by James Harden, and George’s leg came down awkwardly and buckled as he knocked into the basket stanchion.  The injury certainly hurts the Pacers’ chances of contending in 2014/15 and is nothing short of heartbreaking for the 24-year-old.  More from the week that was..

• Wolves owner Glen Taylor expects to trade Kevin Love by August 24th, the date when Andrew Wiggins can be officially moved.  One report indicated that the Wolves are no longer in serious talks with any team other than the Cavs.
• The Spurs signed Tony Parker to a multi-year extension.  It’s the third extension that Parker has signed with San Antonio over the course of his career and it will take him through the 2017/18 season.
• Derrick Rose acknowledged that there is some tension between him and the Bulls, but owner Jerry Reinsdorf doesn’t agree with that assessment.
• A judge ruled in favor of Shelly Sterling, which means the transfer of the Clippers to Steve Ballmer will probably go through.
• The NBPA elected Michele Roberts to lead the union.
• The Lakers officially hired Byron Scott.
• The Hawks and Mike Scott agreed to terms.
• The Heat signed forward Shawne Williams.
• The relationship between Eric Bledsoe and the Suns is reportedly in bad shape.
• The Sixers are reportedly fighting changes to the lottery.
• The Wolves are targeting Thaddeus Young.
• The Kings, Cavs, Spurs, Thunder, and Wizards are eyeing Dahntay Jones.
• Metta World Peace has agreed to play in China next season.
• Nemanja Dangubic has chosen to sign with Serbian club KK Crvena Zvezda.
• The Wizards waived Melvin Ely.
• Todd Mayo is planning on going pro.
• The Warriors waived Hilton Armstrong.
• Mo Williams and the Wolves agreed to a one-year deal.
• The Mavs signed Ivan Johnson.
• The Pacers are interested in MarShon Brooks.
• Byron Mullens will sign with a Chinese team.
• The Raptors will sign Lucas Nogueira after helping him out of his overseas contract.
• The Raptors inked Will Cherry.
• The Jazz will guarantee the 2014/15 for Ian Clark.
• Former Sixers and Clippers point guard Maalik Wayns has signed to play with Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania.
• The Magic added Peyton Siva.
• The Lakers worked out Michael Beasley.
• The Grizzlies added Ed Stefanski to their front office and gave Chris Wallace an extension.
• The Kings signed free agent forward Eric Moreland.
• The Kings have interest in former No. 11 overall pick Terrence Williams.
• The Knicks signed second-round pick Cleanthony Early.
• The Bucks signed No. 36 pick Johnny O’Bryant.
• Lorenzo Brown is headed to Italy.
• It’s “very likely” that Hawks second-round draftee Edy Tavares, also known as Walter Tavares, will continue to play overseas next season.

The Bulls are offering a package of Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott for Kevin Love, but the Wolves say the Cavs’ offer is still their favorite.  Still, even though they prefer Cleveland’s package, it wasn’t enough to woo them to move Love just yet.  More from the week that was..

• The Sixers, Nuggets, and Celtics are among the clubs trying to line themselves up as a third team in a Love swap.  Meanwhile, Love may be pushing for a trade to Cleveland.
• The Lakers and Byron Scott appear to be nearing a deal.
• The NBPA executive search has been shaken up.
• The Pistons are telling Josh Smith that the trade rumors involving the Kings were inaccurate, but that might not be the case.
• Chris Paul is mulling a boycott if Donald Sterling stays.  Doc Rivers is having similar thoughts.
• Ray Allen is still mulling retirement but is leaning towards joining up with the Cavs.
• The Cavs signed Andrew Wiggins and they can’t move him for 30 days from the date of signing.
• The Hawks and Shelvin Mack have struck agreement on a three-year, $7.3MM deal.
• The Mavs added Jameer Nelson.
• The Nets signed draft-and-stash prospect Bojan Bogdanovic.
• Three teams are eyeing Dahntay Jones.
• The Sixers remain interested in Dion Waiters.
• The Celtics added Evan Turner.
• The Kings will sign Omri Casspi to a one-year pact after he cleared waivers.
• The Mavericks have nullified their contract with Rashard Lewis after a right knee injury requiring surgery was discovered during his team physical.
• The Bulls told Nikola Mirotic that they won’t trade him.
• The Rockets signed rookie guard Nick Johnson to a three-year deal.
• The Nuggets signed Jusuf Nurkic.
• The Bulls signed Aaron Brooks.
• The Bulls also inked first-round pick Doug McDermott.
• The Hawks signed No. 15 overall pick Adreian Payne.
• The Hornets signed Noah Vonleh.
• The Rockets will sign Clint Capela.
• The Thunder and first-round pick Josh Huestis cut a D-League deal prior to the draft.
• There’s mutual interest between the Rockets and Francisco Garcia.
• The Wolves re-signed Robbie Hummel.
• The Suns waived Dionte Christmas.
• The Mavs will sign Al-Farouq Aminu.
• Top 2015 draft prospect Emmanuel Mudiay will play in China.
• The Heat and Pacers like Chris Singleton.
• The Knicks waived Shannon Brown.
• The Cavs acquired three players on non-guaranteed deals from the Jazz.
• The Kings arena plan has cleared its final legal hurdle.
• The Pistons and second-round pick Spencer Dinwiddie have agreed to a three-year pact.
• The Cavs and Raptors are eyeing Will Cherry.
• Free agent shooting guard Patrick Christopher has agreed to a non-guaranteed deal with the Grizzlies.
• The Raptors will sign Lucas Nogueira.
• Former Raptors point guard Dwight Buycks has signed with Valencia of Spain rather than sign in the NBA.
• The Nuggets signed Erick Green.
• The Nets signed Markel Brown as well as Cory Jefferson.
• The Sixers have signed point guard Pierre Jackson to a partially guaranteed one-year deal.
• The Pelicans signed Patric Young.
• The Cavs signed Joe Harris.
• The Bulls signed Cameron Bairstow.
• Seth Curry is weighing overseas options.
• Michael Jenkins will join the Nets for camp.
• The Magic signed second-round pick Devyn Marble.
• D-League president Dan Reed resigned.

Now that the Cavs have landed LeBron James, could Kevin Love be next?  LeBron reached out to Love to let him know he wants him to come to Cleveland and the Cavs are reportedly willing to include Andrew Wiggins in a deal.  Meanwhile, the Warriors are still in it and they may or may not be willing to part with Klay Thompson to swing a trade for Love.  Here’s more from the week that was..

• The Hornets signed Lance Stephenson.
• The Heat officially re-signed Dwyane Wade.
• Thompson wants a max extension.
• Ricky Rubio wants a max five-year deal.
• The Lakers claimed Carlos Boozer off waivers after he was amnestied by the Bulls.
• The Rockets, Pelicans, and Wizards worked a three-way swap.
• Andrew Bynum might sit out 2014/15.
• The Suns and Eric Bledsoe have a gap to close.
• The Bulls are close to signing Aaron Brooks.
• The Clippers will retain Glen Davis.
• The Pistons and Kings talked Josh Smith.
• The Cavs will sign Mike Miller.
• The Bucks will sign Jerryd Bayless.
• The Heat re-signed Udonis Haslem.
• The Wizards got DeJuan Blair in a sign-and-trade.
• Kevin Seraphin has signed the Wizards‘ $3.89MM qualifying offer.
• The Knicks signed Jason Smith.
• The Lakers will sign Wesley Johnson.
• The Nets re-signed Alan Anderson.
• The Wizards re-signed Drew Gooden.
• The Pacers and Rodney Stuckey have reached agreement on a one-year deal.
• The Lakers signed Ed Davis.
• The Lakers will re-sign Xavier Henry.
• The Pelicans will sign Jimmer Fredette.
• The Bucks are pushing to move Ersan Ilyasova, unless they’re not.
• The Warriors will sign Brandon Rush.
• The Bulls sent Anthony Randolph to the Magic.
• The Suns guaranteed Shavlik Randolph‘s deal.
• The Pelicans will ink a deal with swingman John Salmons.
• The Mavericks will ink Rashard Lewis.
• The Hornets and point guard Jannero Pargo have struck a deal.
• The Thunder re-signed Grant Jerrett.
• The Cavs and James Jones agreed to a deal.
• The Raptors will cut Dwight Buycks.
• The Rockets talked with draft-and-stash prospect Kostas Papanikolaou but things didn’t work out.
• The Wizards and Garrett Temple agreed to a deal.
• The Rockets re-signed Troy Daniels.
• The Magic will sign Luke Ridnour.
• The Suns will sign Anthony Tolliver.
• The Grizzlies are eyeing Glen Grunwald and others for a front office job that could become the GM role.
• The Lakers waived Kendall Marshall.  The Bucks will claim him.
• The Bulls have waived Lou Amundson, Ronnie Brewer, and Mike James.
• The Pelicans will likely waive Omri Casspi.
• The Heat signed James Ennis.
• The Rockets have been working with No. 25 pick Clint Capela to secure his buyout from Chalon-Sur-Saone of France.
• The Grizzlies will keep Nick Calathes on their roster next season.
• The Jazz and Trevor Booker agreed to a deal.
• The Pelicans will re-sign Darius Miller.
• The Bulls have offered a three-year contract to Cameron Bairstow.
• Here are some of this week’s renounced players, including the legendary Brian Scalabrine.
• The Heat signed Shabazz Napier.
• The Raptors released Diante Garrett.
• Alessandro Gentile has re-signed with his Italian team for three years.
• The Pistons have waived Josh Harrellson and Peyton Siva.
• The Celtics will keep Phil Pressey.
• The Lakers agreed to sign Ryan Kelly.
• The Rockets signed Ishmael Smith and also Joey Dorsey and Jeff Adrien.  Smith was waived by the Suns.
• The Mavs signed Eric Griffin.
• Highly touted 2015 NBA draft prospect Emmanuel Mudiay will play professionally overseas next year rather than attend SMU.
• The Pelicans signed Patric Young.
• Sixers second-round draft pick Vasilije Micic has an agreement to play for Bayern Munich in Germany.
• The Hornets traded Scotty Hopson to the Pelicans. It was one of three trades in four days involving the swingman, who wound up going from the Pelicans to the Rockets in their three-way swap with the Wizards.

LeBron James is going home.  After a season full of speculation, the best player in the game is heading back to where it all started with the Cavs.  James will get a max salary deal from Cleveland and says that he’s prepared to be the “old head” for the young Cavs squad.  More from the week that was..

• Carmelo Anthony was choosing between the Knicks and Bulls but he’ll be staying put in New York.  On his website, ‘Melo wrote: “This organization has supported me and in return, I want to stay and build here with this city and my team.”
• It seemed like Chris Bosh was headed to Houston, but he’ll be re-signing with the Heat.
• The Heat are also close to re-signing Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem.
• There were a number of contenders in the mix for Pau Gasol but he’ll be joining up with the Bulls.
• The Rockets are sending Jeremy Lin to the Lakers.
• The Rockets will sign Trevor Ariza.
• The Nets, Cavs, and Celtics completed a three-way deal which sent Marcus Thornton to the C’s, Jarrett Jack to the Nets, and gave Cleveland the cap room necessary to sign LeBron.
• The Mavs got Chandler Parsons to sign a three-year offer sheet but it appears that the Rockets will match.
• The Cavs want to swing a deal for Kevin Love.
• Paul Pierce agreed to sign with the Wizards.
• The Hornets signed Gordon Hayward to an offer sheet but he’ll wind up staying in Utah.
• The Suns got Isaiah Thomas off of a sign-and-trade with the Kings.
• The Suns re-signed P.J. Tucker.
• Mike Miller was nearing a deal with the Nuggets but it now appears that the Cavs are in the lead.
• The Mavs were nearing a deal with Vince Carter but he signed with the Grizzlies.
• Nick Young (a.k.a. Swaggy P) will stay with the Lakers.
• The Cavs traded Alonzo Gee to the Pelicans.
• LaMarcus Aldridge will seek a new deal next summer.
• The Heat were said to be the frontrunners for Luol Deng and they wound up signing him earlier today.
• The Grizzlies will re-sign Beno Udrih.
• The Magic surprised everyone when they agreed to sign Channing Frye.
• The Blazers will sign Steve Blake.
• The Heat signed Josh McRoberts.
• Jusuf Nurkic will join the Nuggets this season.
• James Johnson will sign a two-year deal with Toronto.
• Miami explored the possibility of sending Mario Chalmers out in a sign-and-trade to add more talent.
• The Bulls and Nikola Mirotic are close to a deal.
• The Cavs are recruiting Ray Allen but he’s thinking about retirement.
• The Raptors will re-sign Greivis Vasquez.
• The Lakers will re-sign Jordan Hill.
• The Rockets are nearing a new deal with Troy Daniels.
• The Hornets landed Marvin Williams.
• The Raptors waived Julyan Stone.
• The Knicks signed Cole Aldrich and waived Lamar Odom.
• Kent Bazemore will sign with the Hawks.
• Anthony Morrow agreed to join the Thunder.
• The Knicks and Sixers discussed Amare Stoudemire.
• The Pistons reached agreement with Aaron Gray.
• The Bulls will send Greg Smith to the Mavs.
• The Spurs agreed to sign Gregg Popovich to an extension.
• The NBA set the salary cap and luxury tax line.
• The Hawks waived John Salmons.
• The Bucks signed Jabari Parker.
• The Jazz signed Dante Exum.
• The Kings signed Nik Stauskas.
• The Jazz signed Rodney Hood.
• The Wolves signed Zach LaVine.
• The Grizzlies signed Jordan Adams.
• The Nuggets signed No. 19 pick Gary Harris.
• The Spurs agreed to sign Kyle Anderson.
• The Hornets acquired Scotty Hopson.
• The Clippers inked C.J. Wilcox.
• The Raptors signed Bruno Cabocio.
• The Celtics inked their first-round picks.
• Suns first-round pick Bogdan Bogdanovic has signed with Fenerbahce Ulker of Turkey.
• The Nets are close to a deal with Bojan Bogdanovic.
• The Pelicans and Russ Smith agreed to a guaranteed deal.
• Nando De Colo is heading to Russia.
• The Donald Sterling circus continues.
• The Grizzlies will invite Scottie Wilbekin and Okaro White to training camp.