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| Updating the ongoing free agency market in the NBA, the Knicks have reportedly offered guard Chris Duhon a two-year deal worth $7 million while the Magic have offered three years for $10 million, and Duhon is expected to make a decision in the coming week, according to the Orlando Sentinel. |
Our View: Duhon's agent is claiming his client is concerned with winning a ring, and that gives the edge to Orlando. Duhon also wouldn't mind serving as Jameer Nelson's backup for the Magic. He is expected to make a decision within the next seven days, so we'll keep you posted.
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| Darius Miles will be suspended for the first 10 games of next season after failing a league drug test, according to The Oregonian. |
Our View: The league has yet to release what substance Miles has tested positive for, but it may be the results are for naught. Miles was diagnosed with a knee injury that has been labeled as career ending, and it is an injury no player has ever returned to action in the NBA from. Miles has been working out in Phoenix, hoping to return, and this matter is simply the NBA insuring their bases are covered should be achieve the miracle of full health.
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| In an intriguing story from NBA free agency, Buddy Baker, the agent for Carl Landry , has expressed his distaste for the tactics of the Houston Rockets in attempting to influence the value of his client, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: The Rockets have requested full medical testing on the right knee of Landry, a restricted free agent, before they will continue contract negotiations. Baker claims their decision to announce that desire via the press is in fact an attempt to scare other potential employers away and to lower his value on the open market. It does appear the plan has backfired, as Landry might not feel as strongly about staying with the Rockets as he did initially. And according to Landry and Baker, the knee is fine.
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| It appears the rumors are now becoming a reality as the Seattle SuperSonics will move to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season as part of a settlement with the city of Seattle, according to the Miami Herald. |
Our View: The settlement calls for Sonics owner Clay Bennett and the Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay up to $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the Key Arena lease between the NBA team and the city. The team's name and colors will be staying in Seattle. Bennett said the move would start Thursday and the first focus would be on the SuperSonics' players.
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| Updating an earlier report, Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge is now telling reporters the Celts have not offered free-agent guard Corey Maggette a new contract, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: Ainge has reportedly talked to several players, including Maggette, without making an offer. Maggette is reportedly getting interest from several teams, but Boston was believed to be the first to offer an actual deal. It now appears that is not the case.
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| Chris Paul and agent Lance Young met with the Hornets today to discuss a new contract extension, but they have yet to strike a deal, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Paul is trying to decide between a four-year deal worth $68 million or a five-year extension worth $87 million, Young said. The extension would go into effect after next season, the last season covered by the contract Paul signed as a rookie in the summer of 2005.
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| DeSagana Diop , traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the New Jersey Nets in February, is returning to his former team with an impressive new pay raise to boot, according to the Dallas Star-Telegram. |
Our View: The 7-foot center agreed to a five-year contract with the Mavs on Wednesday and he is expected to sign on July 9 for the entire mid-level exception, expected to be around $5.5 million or more for the first season.
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| Boston Celtics starting center Kendrick Perkins has undergone surgery on his left shoulder, according to CBSSports.com. |
Our View: The Celtics said Perkins had arthroscopic surgery Wednesday at New England Baptist Hospital. Also undergoing surgery was the Celtics' second-round draft pick, Bill Walker, to repair damage to his right knee. No timetable has been set for Perkins' and Walker's offseason returns to the Celtics.
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| The Clippers have agreed to contractual terms with newly-drafted guard Eric Gordon , according to the Sports Network. |
Our View: Gordon was the 7th-overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, coming off a freshman season that earned him honors as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
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| The Nets have signed Brook Lopez, who the club selected with the 10th overall pick in the draft, according to the Miami Herald. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. |
Our View: Lopez will provide the Nets with a physical post player, and he could make a solid impact right away as a rookie. Lopez averaged 19.3 points and 8.2 rebounds last season at Stanford.
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| Rookie Michael Beasley has inked with the Heat, according to the Sports Network. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. |
Our View: Beasley was the Heat's highest draft choice in franchise history as Miami finished an NBA-worst 15-67. He finished third in the nation with 26.2 points with Kansas State last season.
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| The AP reports that Michael Beasley suffered a chest injury after catching a teammates' elbow in the chest. He had to leave the Heat practice. |
Our View: It's unlikely this is anything more than a bruise, and it is unlikely that the number two overall selection will miss next week's summer league in Orlando.
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| The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Warriors have offered Elton Brand a five year deal worth $85 to $90 million. |
Our View: Brand loves L.A. and has said he only opted out of his deal so that the Clippers could bring in some better talent to surround him with. Well, they got Baron Davis but now the Warriors can afford to pay Brand nearly $20 million more than the Clips. Not only will he have to weigh the money, but the supporting casts as well. One could argue that the Warriors are deeper and younger than the Clippers. This will be interesting.
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| The Los Angeles Times reports that the Lakers will pursue Kobe-stopper, James Posey, in free agency. Posey expects to command the full mid-level exception. |
Our View: Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, had this to say: "When you get a taste of a championship, you want to keep winning them. The Lakers are a great team."
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| Aside from the Celtics, who have already offered him a contract, Corey Maggette is being sought after by the Heat, Magic, and Jazz, according to the Deseret News. |
Our View: So far, the teams with cap space have not pursued Maggette and it looks like it will be a sign-and-trade deal if he wants to leave L.A. The amount of teams courting him means that the offers will continue to increase. From our viewpoint, Maggette would see the most minutes and scoring opportunities in Utah.
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| Josh Smith is to meet with the 76ers on Wednesday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: The 6-foot-9 Smith is a fantasy freak because he is valuable in all categories. If he were to play with Andre Miller under coach Maurice Cheeks, his fantasy status would be even higher. However, the Hawks have the right to match any offer as Smith is a restricted free agent. Smith has had multiple run-ins with Hawks coaching and management during his four seasons in Atlanta.
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| The Dallas Morning News reports that the Mavs have reached a one-year agreement with Gerald Green. |
Our View: Green hopes to follow fellow Mav Brandon Bass in resurrecting his career. He is just 22 and a freak athlete, but has never adapted his game to the NBA. New head coach Rick Carlisle does not have a glamorous track record with such individuals.
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| The New Jersey Nets are targeting Roger Mason Jr in free agency, according to the New York Post. |
Our View: This may be a precursor to moving Vince Carter. A long list of shooting guards are rumored targets of the Nets this offseason.
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| According to the Boston Globe, Tony Allen was not made a qualifying offer to remain with the Boston Celtics before the July 1 deadline. |
Our View: Allen's chances of returning were hurt by the Celtics' draft. They selected two players, J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker, both play his position. Allen will find a home some where. He is just 26 and has 72 career starts.
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