NBA Rumors: Yi an Option for the Lakers?
Basketball News: "Unless the Milwaukee Bucks sign restricted free agent Charlie Bell, they too are woefully thin behind their starter (Mo Williams) at the point. They too have a crisis first-round draft pick Yi Jianlian refusing to sign with the team. The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Yi as one of six rumored preferred destinations for the Chinese forward: Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the few teams who worked out Yi before the draft. A source close to the team indicated at the time that they were left very impressed. Although the Los Angeles Lakers may not be willing to offer equal talent, the Bucks appear to have a very short list of suitors which has given them precious little leverage. Although Yi can sit out the year, they may bank on him eventually coming around and refuse to trade him. Then again they may find that a trade is the best and only option. Though Jordan Farmar may not be enough, perhaps LA would be willing to take on the large contract of forward Bobby Simmons (who missed the entire season with a heel injury). Would an offer of Jordan Farmar, Kwame Brown and a first round pick be a fair deal for Yi and Simmons?"
Basketball News: "Jumping down to Plan Z for a moment . . . trading Kobe Bryant appears to be the last choice after nearly an entire alphabet of "letting them gel." With the top three choices apparently off the table, Plan D would be the focus. Plan D is some off-the-radar deal that lands the Los Angeles Lakers some unexpected help. In pursuit of this mysterious goal, the following players are off limits because they just signed contracts: Derek Fisher, Luke Walton, Chris Mihm, Coby Karl and Larry Turner. Both Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom are safe unless there's some gigantic, unforeseen deal that dramatically upgrades the team (or a doubtful change of heart from the Pacers)."
Basketball News: "After such a promising summer league, Javaris Crittenton will not be moved before the season. He played so well in summer league action that the Los Angeles Lakers won't consider trading him until they get a long, hard look at him against NBA caliber competition."
Sacramento Bee: "The Kings might be close to signing Kevin Martin to a long-term extension. According to two league sources, the Kings have made the fourth-year shooting guard an offer of five years for approximately $55 million. Martin, who is entering the final season of his contract, is expected to be handsomely rewarded for his breakout 2006-07 season as an agreement could be reached this week. Martin was a rare highlight as the Kings finished 33-49 last season. He led the team in scoring (20.2 points per game) and shot 47.3 percent from the field."
Indianapolis Star: "I went into the summer believing O’Neal would be moved. It’s apparent now, however, that he won’t be unless a team comes up with a better offer than what’s already been presented. Rather than give up O’Neal for less than his market value, the Pacers want to see how he responds to Jim O’Brien’s system. For that matter, they want to see how everyone responds to O’Brien’s system. They can make more accurate evaluations on personnel before the trade deadline in February. ... It doesn’t appear the Pacers will add anyone to their roster, however, unless someone comes in a bargain bin. Blame the luxury tax, and don’t pout about it. Phoenix traded Kurt Thomas and two first-round picks to Seattle for a conditional second-round pick earlier this summer, all because of the tax. "
Tacoma News-Tribune: "Seattle SuperSonics chairman Clay Bennett told his employees that Oklahoma City is ready to foot the bill for the team to relocate there next season, a source within the organization said. That information was passed along to Sonics employees during a meeting with Bennett on Wednesday, an employee who attended the meeting told The News Tribune on the condition of anonymity. However, Bennett clarified those comments late Friday, saying the statements provided by the source from the meeting were a hypothetical example of how a community that is interested in relocating a business would help provide some of the mitigation costs to make that happen."
New York Post: "And the lure of Kidd is a strong reason the Nets could land one of the more attractive remaining free agents, small forward James Posey. "We've been talking and talking for a while," Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed yesterday. "And while it's hard to get into specifics, yes, the Nets are in the running. I would think there will be a decision soon." Bartelstein was hoping for a decision last night, but said it might go into the weekend before Posey makes his choice. Though attracted to playing with Kidd, Posey, 6-foot-8, 30 years old, who spent his last two seasons in Miami, is considering offers from the Celtics and Cavaliers. The Nets are at a financial disadvantage and have the biannual exception, $1.8 million, unless they can work a sign-and-trade with the Heat. Boston has $3.6 million of its mid-level exception remaining."
Boston Herald: "Posey is still negotiating to return to the Heat."
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "It looks like James Posey found some free-agent offers he likes better than the Heat's. The agent for Posey said Friday that the forward was close to signing with another team, which would end Posey's Heat tenure after two seasons and leave the Heat thin at small forward. Agent Mark Bartelstein declined to name the two teams vying to sign Posey but said a return to the Heat wasn't among the likely options. "I don't want to get into the teams, but I expect something to get done later [Friday] or [Saturday]," Bartelstein said."
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Agent Bill Neff said he's been in contact with the Heat about guard Troy Hudson. The 10-year veteran played 34 games last season with Minnesota."
Boston Herald: "The Celtics must now resume their search for bench help, with one looming possibility said to be Ruben Patterson, a defensively-tough free agent swingman who played for the Bucks last season. The Celtics are also reportedly considering Dahntay Jones, the Memphis swingman who the Celtics originally drafted with the 20th pick of the 2003 draft as part of their eventual deal for Marcus Banks, and Miami swingman James Posey."
Florida Today: "Foyle, 32, considered offers from Phoenix, Cleveland, Utah, Charlotte and Philadelphia before accepting a two-year deal with the Magic. He holds the option on the second season, but says he hopes to be in Orlando for the long term because he feels he's landed in a perfect spot. "Doing the dirty work is the stuff that wins games," Foyle said. "This is a young team. It's a place where I know I'm going to play minutes and they had an opening. Doing the things I can hopefully will help put the team where it needs to be."
Orlando Sentinel: "The addition of Foyle gives the Magic 13 players under contract for this season. The 14th soon will become rookie center Marcin Gortat of Poland, who played the past two seasons in Europe after he was drafted in the second round in 2005. Although Gortat has agreed to contract terms, the Magic still are awaiting more paperwork. The Magic may leave the 15th roster spot unfilled going into training camp next month, giving them flexibility once other teams start moving players. It also will help them attract better training camp players, who will know a roster spot remains open. Gortat and second-year power forward James Augustine are expected to provide the depth in the Magic frontcourt, playing behind Howard and veterans Battie and Foyle."
San Francisco Chronicle: "Nelson signed a three-year contract a year ago. It gave him a base salary of $3.1 million, which ranked in the bottom half of NBA head coaching salaries. He received $1 million for ending the Warriors' 12-year playoff drought and another $1 million for getting them to the Western Conference semifinals. His contract calls for the same deal for the 2007-08 season. As soon as last season ended, Nelson asked for a new deal, but so far the best the team has offered is believed to be a $2 million raise this year, but with the previously guaranteed $3.1 million in the third year changing into a non-guaranteed team option for $5.1 million. Nelson apparently wants the raise without having to worry about his job prospects or possible incentives for the year after. Time is running out, and each side seems to be counting on public opinion to sway the negotiations its way."
Basketball News: "There are basically two schools of thought from here on out with [CJ] Miles. The first is that with each passing day, Utah is less likely to bring Miles back. The idea here is that if Utah really wanted him back, they would have taken action much earlier in the process. And with a plethora of shooting guards already on the roster, why bring in one more? On the other hand, some believe Utah is just waiting it out. In other words, if Miles doesn't receive any other offers, he'll basically have no choice but to return to Utah on the cheap. Whatever you believe, Miles doesn't seem to be in high demand. This runs directly contrary to what some executives have told me about how much they like the kid."
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