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No meaningful basketball until October. The Draft is in 10 days and teams can begin OFFICIALLY negotiating with free agents on July 1st.
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Latest noteworthy rumors...
-If Celtics cannot coax Timberwolves into a Kevin Love trade, they may resort to a complete rebuild and trade both Rondo & Jeff Green.
-A league source tells one NY media entity that the Bulls are the "most likely" landing spot for Melo. Houston, who may make a large push for Melo, would have to free up more $$$ than just Lin & Asik to afford him. Odds are, Melo seeks a sign & trade to the Bulls next week (in "secret" to avoid tampering charges) that could lead to a Boozer & 16th or 19th pick going to NY next month for Melo. Chicago would also have to free up additional space in the form of some combo of Gibson, Dunleavy and even Butler, potentially.
-Houston's top target will be LeBron (second is Melo) but the Clippers will be in, too, while Pat Riley is desperate to keep LBJ in Miami.
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Hornets going to go hard after Lance Stephenson, and also pursuing a deal to bring Aaron Afflalo to Charlotte.
Top targets in the draft:
1) Doug McDermott
2) Nick Stauskus
3) Gary Harris
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Dropping bunch of rumors before business picks up this week…
Dallas Mavericks
-Very interested in free agent Pau Gasol, as long as his price tag isn't too large
-They would also like to be in on free agent Marcin Gortat, but that will be tough as his team (Washington) have cap space and should be inclined to keep him
-They could be in on free agent Luol Deng
-While an underdog in the sweepstakes, they should have a face-to-face meeting with Carmelo Anthony
-Phoenix Suns forward Channing Frye is expected to opt out of the final year of his deal ($6.8M). He will interest Golden State (perhaps in the event the Kevin Love trade never happens) and Cleveland.
-Denver guard Nate Robinson will remain with the team, exercising his $2.1M player option for next season.
-Houston forward Francisco Garcia will opt out of his $1.3M option for next season and become a free agent. The Rockets thank him, giving them one less obstacle towards enticing a superstar to join Howard & Harden.
-Milwaukee has been talking to teams about a few possible trades. The most likely scenario has them moving Ersan Ilyasova for a late-first round pick (perhaps Houston's 25th overall selection).
-The Bucks figure to be in full rebuilding mode (what were they in before?) and both John Henson and Brandon Knight are said to be available in trades. It may also be the only way for them to get rid of Larry Sanders' terrible contract, partnering him up with one of the young guys in a trade.
-The Sixers at #3 in the draft are expected to take G Dante Exum but may be moved to take F Noah Vonleh. Of course, other rumors say they're very much interested in Joel Embiid, so who the fuck knows.
-Sacramento's Rudy Gay will exercise his $19.3M option for next season and will resume long-term extension talks late this summer. He likely wants to see the moves they make after free agency begins on July 1st (deals cannot be signed until July 10th), but the Kings look at him as a major building block for the team and want to keep him. If they end up reaching a deal this summer, it's likely going to be a 4-year deal (including 3-year extension), but if it blows up, he can become a free agent next summer.
-Nets and Cavaliers are discussing a trade to swap Marcus Thornton and Jarrett Jack. The Nets would look to replace Shaun Livingston with Jack, assuming Livingston can get a bigger deal in free agency to leave. Jack is owed $6.3M each of the next two years and has a team option for '16-'17. Thornton has one year left at $8.69M.
-On the Warriors/Love front, new head coach Steve Kerr and "adviser" Jerry West don't want to trade Klay Thompson while ownership and the GM are leaning towards moving him in the package for Kevin Love.
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Croatian 20-year-old forward Dario Saric will sign a contract with a Turkey pro team that will keep him there for at least 2 years.
He's likely to go in the lottery but could slide later in the 1st but will be a pick for a team comfortable in stashing him in Europe through 2016 at the earliest.
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Sounds like Randolph may leave Memphis if they're insistent on just 3-years.
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With the big 3 effectively staying in Miami, my sense on Melo has taken a complete 180 and I believe he'll return to NY.
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Salary dump by Atlanta
Salmons has a $7M team option for next season, so figure he won't be playing for the Hawks.
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Wojo says the Rockets and Cavs are nearing (separate) deals to create spaces for a max contracts. Houston moving Lin, Cleveland moving Jack.
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Paul Pierce to Washington for two years, $11 million, with the second year being a player option. Much better choice than overpaying Ariza, and it looks like they are keeping their options open for when Durant hits the free agency market.Comment
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Good move. Ariza wanted too much. They'll miss his defense, but that's it. They really need Otto Porter to validate his draft position.Comment
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Glad the Rockets didn't match for Parsons! Him and Dirk together should be fun to watch.
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If I'm the Cavs I'm holding onto Wiggins. In a few years he'll be special. Hanging around James will make him even better.Comment
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Lance Stephenson to the Hornets
That perimeter defense of Kemba-Lance-MKG is insane.Comment
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