NBA Free Agency Capsules: Nowitzki in NYC; Mavs believe he's just visiting
DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki heard about plans for thousands of fans to meet him at the airport in Dallas to beg him stay with the Mavericks, so instead he spent the first day of free agency in New York.
Meeting with the Knicks? Or former coach Avery Johnson and the Nets?
Nope. Just hanging out with Mavs point guard Jason Kidd.
"I wouldn't read anything into this other than Dirk trying to avoid a big scene here," Dallas president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Thursday. "I know that there is no ulterior motive."
Nelson said he remains "cautiously optimistic" that Nowitzki will remain with the Mavs, his only NBA team. Over 12 seasons, Nowitzki has become the club's career leader in points and rebounds, having won an MVP award and gotten Dallas to the NBA finals. But they haven't won a title and at 32 he realizes his prime years are fading.
Nowitzki opted out of a guaranteed $21.5 million for next season to become a free agent for the first time. He could re-sign for up to four years and perhaps get a no-trade clause added.
Nelson said he expects Nowitzki in town soon.
"Knowing him it could be any day," Nelson said. "He could get on any flight and try to slip in. It might be tomorrow, Saturday — who knows. When he gets here, we'll have a chance to settle quietly into a meaningful, heart-to-heart conversation."
Kidd has said he'll do whatever he can to be a recruiter. So maybe their get-together was part Kidd convincing Nowitzki to stay and part gearing up on who they can target as a tandem.
Or maybe Nowitzki wanted to let his friend know face-to-face that he's got something else in mind.
It's all part of the uncertainty that is free agency.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban is doing his best to make sure Nowitzki feels loved and appreciated.
Despite the plans for the welcoming committee falling through, the team launched a "DFW Digs Dirk" campaign complete with a website and a song. Special T-shirts are being sold with a bottle of white shoe polish thrown in so fans can decorate their cars and enter a contest for the best design. A downtown building will flash "DFW Digs Dirk" in lights for the next week and a mayoral proclamation will be issued "once Nowitzki has re-signed with the team," according to a news release.
Until Nowitzki's future is decided, the Mavericks are in a holding pattern.
Nelson said officials are making calls and monitoring options, but can't make any moves until their top priority is resolved.
Roundup: James gets visitors, and Gay gets a big contract
Money is flying around in free agency, and LeBron James and the A-listers haven't even started getting paid.
James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh only got visitors Thursday. Rudy Gay got rich.
Gay scored the first big deal of the free agency period, agreeing to a five-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies that will pay him more than $80 million, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.
While not on the top level of players available, Gay was expected to draw interest from a number of teams. He canceled a planned visit to Minnesota when the Grizzlies stepped forward with their offer.
James, the head of this year's class and perhaps the most hyped free agent ever, received visits in Cleveland from the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks. He's set for more in the coming days before deciding where he will play next season.
Wade met with the Chicago Bulls and Nets, Bosh was visited by the Miami Heat and Nets, and both will sit down separately Friday with the Knicks.
In the meantime, deals are getting done around them.
Darko Milicic — drafted right after James and just before Bosh and Wade with the No. 2 pick in the 2003 draft — agreed to a four-year deal with the Timberwolves. It includes about $16 million in guaranteed money, despite what's been a disappointing career for the center from Serbia.
Other top names in the class, considered the deepest free agent pool ever, include Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki and Carlos Boozer.
But the news came from lesser players, such as the five-year, $32 million contract Drew Gooden agreed to with the Milwaukee Bucks, and the $34 million, five-year pact Amir Johnson got to stay with Toronto.
The most noteworthy development on Day 1 didn't even involve a player. The Los Angeles Lakers announced that Phil Jackson would return for a run at a third straight title and a 12th as an NBA coach.
"Count me in," Jackson said in a news release. "After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season. It'll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one."
The Heat are trying to build a team that can stop Jackson's Lakers, and after talking to Stoudemire shortly after the market opened, moved on to Bosh on Thursday and will call on James on Friday.
Bosh seemed pleased with what he heard from the Heat.
"Off to a great start," he wrote on Twitter. "First one went well. Pat Riley is very passionate about winning."
After years of slashing payroll so it could be a player in this year's market, New York finally got to make its pitch to James. Arriving just as the Nets left, the Knicks spent more than two hours speaking with James and his advisers.
"I think it went well," New York coach Mike D'Antoni said. "But obviously everyone that gets the chance to talk to him will probably say the same thing."
The Nets felt even better about their performance, which came from a group headed by new owner Mikhail Prokhorov and part-owner Jay-Z, James' longtime friend. A person briefed on the meeting was told it was "spectacular."
"So far we have met with LeBron," team president Rod Thorn said. "Told our story and we'll see what happens."
The Los Angeles Clippers also get an audience with the King on Friday, with the Bulls and hometown Cavaliers expected to meet with James before the end of the week.
While James, Wade and Bosh wait, the next big deal could go to Joe Johnson. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that Atlanta was prepared to offer a maximum-value contract to its All-Star guard, who also met with New York and Miami after free agency opened Thursday.
Deals can't be signed until July 8. There is a moratorium period while the salary cap for next season is determined.
-- Brian Mahoney
Nets, Knicks woo NBA superstar LeBron James
CLEVELAND (AP) — It's a flirtatious courtship, media frenzy and global event rolled into a package unprecedented in sports history.
The recruitment of LeBron James, the NBA's two-time reigning MVP and player for the ages, has become an international soap opera featuring private jets, closed-door meetings and rumors that seemingly change by the second. It's battling the World Cup, Wimbledon and the oil spill for headlines, and its conclusion may not only alter the league's balance or power, but also mean tens of millions of dollars more in revenues for the winning city.
All hail the King. Or at least make him an offer.
On Thursday, James became the most celebrated free agent of our time, touching off a multimillion-dollar bidding war that began with the New Jersey Nets, led by billionaire Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov and rap mogul Jay-Z. They were followed by the New York Knicks making presentations to the 25-year-old superstar, who must decide if it's time to leave home.
In the next few days, at least six teams, including the sentimental hometown favorites, the Cleveland Cavaliers, will have audiences with James and try to convince him that he should join them to satisfy his ambition of winning a championship and becoming a billionaire.
The Nets will try to sell him Brooklyn — not the bridge, but their next home.
The Knicks will entice him with basketball's Mecca, Madison Square Garden, and the brightest lights.
The Chicago Bulls can offer a talented roster and the chance to walk in Michael Jordan's footsteps.
The Miami Heat are counting on South Beach, a favorable income tax climate and the possibility of teaming up with fellow free agent Dwyane Wade to lure him from Ohio's snow.
The Los Angeles Clippers can offer Hollywood and the chance to do the unthinkable: make them a winner.
And then there's the Cavs, his team for the past seven seasons, who can only hope that his head makes his heart stay close to his Akron home.
Cleveland can offer James, who was already a national figure before he graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, $30 million more than any other team, thanks to the NBA players' collective bargaining agreement.
Money, though, is not all the 6-foot-8, 260-pound player wants. He's after titles, lots of them.
While he has led the Cavs through their most successful stretch in team history, James has come up short in his pursuit of a championship to solidify his legacy. Cleveland was bounced in the second round of the playoffs this season by the Boston Celtics, who have won 17 titles. That's 17 more than the Cavaliers.
James' decision, which isn't expected to be announced for at least another week, has many fans in this city fearing the worst. After all, this is where sports heartbreak has taken up permanent residence. Ask anyone from Cleveland to recite the local teams' misery since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964, and they'll roll their eyes before rattling off nicknames given to the most gut-wrenching losses by the Indians, Browns and Cavaliers.
Losing James might top them all.
"They'll be heartbroken here if he leaves, but we're used to it," said Eric Riley, a Cleveland native and former NBA player, who stopped on a downtown sidewalk to watch the commotion surrounding the wooing of northeastern Ohio's most famous son.
Cleveland also stands to lose tens of millions of dollars from its already-ravaged economy by one estimate if James decides to skip town. In larger markets like New York or Chicago, he could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses.
The scene was surreal outside IMG's international headquarters Thursday as the initial hours of what some have called "The Summer of LeBron" got under way. TV camera crews, photographers, reporters and curious onlookers crowded the sidewalks of East 9th Street and St. Clair waiting for James to arrive.
All that was missing was the red carpet.
James, whose 10-story-tall likeness has adorned the side of a building across from Quicken Loans Arena for the past few years, arrived at 10:58 a.m. in a white Cadillac SUV. Wearing a gray Nike T-shirt, sweat pants and sunglasses, he was hardly dressed for the occasion and didn't seem fazed by the magnitude of the moment.
James made a brief stop in the lobby before heading in an elevator to Suite 823, the headquarters of LRMR Marketing, the company he started with boyhood friend Maverick Carter and two other longtime pals. As James exited the corridor, a papparazzi-like phalanx of photographers clicked their cameras through the building's front windows.
Moments later, Prokhorov, whose worth has been estimated at nearly $10 billion, confidently strolled in alongside Jay-Z, one of the Nets' part owners. Others in New Jersey's delegation carried luggage and computer equipment for a high-tech visual display to James.
About 90 minutes later, the Nets packed up and left town, headed to Chicago for a meeting with Wade and forward Chris Bosh.
"It went well," Nets coach Avery Johnson said.
Jay-Z stayed behind, perhaps for a private talk with James, a longtime friend. But when hip-hop's biggest star was pulling out of the parking garage in the back seat of a luxury sedan, he passed the Knicks' entourage as it arrived in a four-vehicle motorcade for its audience with James.
The Knicks' crew included owner James Dolan, president Donnie Walsh, coach Mike D'Antoni and former Knicks guard Allan Houston. Walsh was brought into the building in a wheelchair following recent neck surgery.
This was New York's moment, one the franchise has been building toward for more than two years. The Knicks have endured a franchise-record nine straight losing seasons but gutted their roster with the hope of signing James, who was in Greenwich Village last weekend looking at a luxury apartment — a sighting that some took to mean he was leaning toward Gotham.
The Knicks have been hoping to get James into a New York state of mind, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg taking part in a "C'Mon LeBron" campaign designed for the Ohio-born superstar.
"I think it went well," D'Antoni told The Associated Press after the Knicks completed their two-hours-plus session with James. "But obviously everyone that gets the chance to talk to him will probably say same the same thing."
James followed the Knicks out the door. He didn't say anything to reporters, presumably driving back to his 40,000-square-foot mansion in Bath, Ohio, where he'll rest up before Friday's scheduled visits by the Heat and Clippers. As he left, a pack of photographers and reporters chased his vehicle, hoping for one signature shot or a clue to what he's thinking.
None came, and for now, no one's sure — maybe not even LeBron himself — where he's going next.
-- Tom Withers
Cleveland fans to LeBron: Stay home
CLEVELAND (AP) — Hundreds of hometown LeBron James fans made an appeal to keep him in a Cleveland uniform with a single word: Home.
The word "Home" was held aloft on cue Thursday night on some of the 20,000 posters that were expected to be distributed to people attending Cleveland's annual July 4th weekend concert by the Cleveland Orchestra and fireworks display.
The word "home" was also spelled out vertically in the lights of a nearby building.
"A lot more than he realizes — the hotels, bars and restaurants will suffer," Anthony Petrello, a 23-year-old fan of James from Middleburg Heights, said a couple hours before the display of affection downtown. "The Cavaliers will suffer."
The addition of "Home" to James' themes, which he has used repeatedly — Team, Commitment, Family, Community and Mission — invoked his ties to Cleveland and his nearby hometown of Akron.
The appeal, which included a video montage of people encouraging James to stay, was arranged by the orchestra and the Fans for LeBron Committee and its website MoreThanAPlayer.org.
The hometown pitch came at the close of a whirlwind day as James became a free agent and began meetings with prospective teams, the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks.
James is scheduled to hear what the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers have to offer him to leave, but Kevin Krumphanzl hopes he ends up staying after talking with the Cavs.
"He gives the city hope," said the 29-year-old fan from Lakewood. "Cleveland's just a tragic sports city."
The Browns, Indians and Cavs have contributed toward a misery-filled history for the city's teams since the Browns won the city's last championship in 1964.
Broadway cast joins chorus wooing LeBron to NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — The cast of a Broadway musical is joining the chorus of New Yorkers wooing LeBron James.
In a video posted on YouTube, four actresses from "Promises, Promises" sing 26 reasons from A to Z that the NBA star should sign with the Knicks. The lyrics range from art museums to zoos and insist that "despite what you've heard, New Yorkers are nice."
The two-time MVP became a free agent Thursday, setting off a frenzy of teams trying to lure him away from Cleveland. Knicks fans have been salivating over the possibility of attracting James for at least two years, as the club slashed salary to create the opportunity to sign him.
The revival of the 1968 "Promises, Promises" opened on Broadway in April starring Sean Hayes of "Will & Grace" fame.
Wade meets Bulls, Nets on Day 1 as free agent
CHICAGO (AP) — Dwyane Wade grew up in Chicago and still makes his offseason home there.
The Bulls would like to see that arrangement become more permanent.
Wade and his representatives spent about two hours with the Bulls on Thursday, hearing their recruiting sales pitch as the most awaited free-agent period in NBA history — maybe sports history — got under way in earnest. Wade talked with the Bulls at the United Center, where as a kid, Wade idolized Michael Jordan and fantasized about following him to the NBA.
Wade did not comment to reporters as he left the United Center, rolling down the window on the black Suburban he was in simply to give the peace sign with a smile.
Later, Wade met with the New Jersey Nets, coming away from that session "impressed," just as he was by the Bulls' presentation.
"So far, so good, very informative," his agent, Henry Thomas, said of teams' pitches so far.
Asked if any agreements were in place, Thomas said: "Way too soon. We're just getting started."
Wade's time with Chicago coincided with the Nets' meeting with the megastar of this class, LeBron James, in Cleveland on Thursday morning. Both meetings ended at roughly the same time, and the Nets' contingent quickly left Cleveland to fly to Chicago for their afternoon meeting with Wade.
Asked if it went any better or worse than the meeting with James, Nets general manager Rod Thorn wrote in a text message: "Don't know. Gave our pitch. Wait to hear what happens."
On Friday, Wade meets with the New York Knicks, while the Heat turn their attention to Cleveland for their turn with James.
Pat Riley, Wade's boss in Miami for the past seven seasons, got the first word in to Wade during free agency, contacting the 2006 NBA finals MVP at the largely ceremonial time of 12:01 a.m. EDT on Thursday. Wade has said repeatedly that he would like to stay in Miami, but structured his last contract for this opportunity of becoming a free agent for the first time and insisted he would listen closely to other clubs.
In short, it's not a foregone conclusion that Wade stays in Miami. But the Heat remain "very confident" that Wade will stay with the only NBA franchise he's known, said Alonzo Mourning, Wade's former teammate, his close friend and now an executive in the Miami organization.
Wade's talk with the Bulls almost certainly included comparisons to that Jordan era and Wade's continued ties to the city. He recently purchased a new home in Chicago, and his sons, ages 8 and 3, have been raised almost entirely there. Wade's mother, a pastor, also has a church in Chicago.
Wade is scheduled to return to South Florida early next week. He and Mourning will appear Tuesday north of downtown Miami at a press conference for their annual Summer Groove, a fundraising weekend for youth programs and other charitable causes, and Wade is expected to play in an all-star game as part of that weekend on July 18.
That game is on Miami's home floor.
The Bulls would love to see Wade settle in on their floor, too. They let leading scorer Ben Gordon sign with Detroit last summer and traded away John Salmons during the season, helping them secure nearly $30 million in cap room for the free agency sweepstakes.
Those two guards are gone and so is veteran Kirk Hinrich, leaving plenty of time available for a scoring guard like Wade in the backcourt with All-Star point guard Derrick Rose.
The Bulls are also expected to talk with Knicks forward David Lee on Friday, according to Lee's agent, Mark Bartelstein. Lee was a first-time All-Star and averaged 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds, but he's expected to weigh bigger offers.
-- Andrew Seligman
Bosh arrives in Chicago, sits down with Heat
MIAMI (AP) — Chris Bosh met with the Miami Heat in Chicago on Thursday, each side gauging the chance of him joining Dwyane Wade in South Florida for the next several seasons.
"It was good. It was good, real good," Bosh said Thursday evening outside his agent's office in downtown Chicago.
He also said he had "no offers yet." Later, Bosh met with the New Jersey Nets and posted on Twitter the "meeting was very good as well. These guys really know how to sell a franchise."
Earlier, he had posted that Heat president "Pat Riley is very passionate about winning."
The Heat has not made any public comment after any free-agent sessions, though there's clearly high mutual interest. Bosh told The Associated Press earlier this week that Miami is one of his top choices during the free-agent period.
Bosh met with the Houston Rockets after the clock struck midnight in the east on Thursday, formally opening the NBA free-agent window. He talked to the Rockets in Dallas, his hometown, then flew to Chicago for the mid-afternoon session with the Heat contingent led by Riley.
The Heat had talked with Amare Stoudemire and others earlier Thursday in Los Angeles.
Riley was joined for the Bosh visit by team owner Micky Arison and Heat great Alonzo Mourning, among others. It's believed the same group will accompany Riley for his meeting in Cleveland on Friday with two-time NBA MVP LeBron James.
Bucks agree to deal with free agent PF Gooden
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Everyone who thought the Milwaukee Bucks would be among the most active teams on the first day of NBA free agency, please raise your hands.
The Bucks made a surprising early splash Thursday, agreeing in principle to a five-year, $32 million deal with free agent forward Drew Gooden.
Agent Stu Lash told The Associated Press that Gooden agreed to sign with the Bucks for the mid-level exception. Gooden is represented by Lash and Dan Fegan of Lagardere-Unlimited.
"One of the things that attracted Drew to Milwaukee was the stability, from the front office to the coaching staff," Lash said.
Stability has been sorely lacking for Gooden, who was taken by Memphis with the No. 4 overall pick out of Kansas in the 2002 draft.
The eight-year pro has played for eight teams, including the Clippers and Mavericks last season. He has averaged 11.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game but hasn't managed to stick anywhere.
"He wants a home," Lash said. "(That's important) for a guy that's moved around quite a bit."
Lash noted that Gooden has a good relationship with Bucks coach Scott Skiles, dating back to his time with the Chicago Bulls.
At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, Gooden's size fills a major need for the Bucks: a power forward to team with center Andrew Bogut. And the deal with Gooden isn't expected to stop the Bucks in their continued pursuit of a new deal with John Salmons, who arrived in a trade with Chicago last season and played a critical role in the Bucks' playoff push.
Bucks officials were not available for comment Thursday.
It's the continuation of an offseason makeover for Bucks general manager John Hammond, who is looking to build on the team's surprising success last season.
Hammond made a pair of trades last week, acquiring forward Corey Maggette from Golden State and guard Chris Douglas-Roberts from New Jersey. Hammond also took Virginia Commonwealth power forward Larry Sanders with the 15th overall pick in last week's draft, along with three second-round picks.
To two of those second-rounders who were introduced to reporters on Thursday, Darington Hobson and Tiny Gallon, the recent round of roster moves was another sign that the Bucks are a team destined to improve.
"I think they made some good moves last year to get them over the hump, make it back to the playoffs, make a run at Atlanta," said Hobson, a shooting guard from New Mexico. "Now you add Chris Douglas-Roberts, Corey Maggette ... maybe some more free agents, hopefully sign John (Salmons) back, and you've got a very good young (core) — but still have some veterans — on a team that's going to be very competitive."
Gallon, a forward out of Oklahoma, noted that he had heard reports that Gooden was headed to the Bucks.
"It's just a rumor, but we get him, that's another positive thing," Gallon said. "The Milwaukee Bucks are going to be on the rise this year."
-- Chris Jenkins
Timberwolves agree on deal with Milicic
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Less than five months ago, Darko Milicic was done with the NBA.
Carrying the label of one of the biggest busts in draft history, the former No. 2 overall draft pick who was taken ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade was ready to head back to Europe and continue his basketball career closer to his homeland of Serbia.
Then a trade to the NBA's version of Siberia surprisingly turned everything around for him. After an encouraging finish to the season with the lowly Timberwolves, Milicic warmed to the idea of staying in Minnesota.
The Timberwolves became enamored with the 7-foot center's potential, so much so that they agreed to a four-year deal on Thursday to make him their starting center. The deal includes about $16 million in guaranteed money, with the final year of the contract only partially guaranteed.
Still, it's a significant commitment to a player who was on the brink of leaving the league.
"Minnesota, from the moment Darko got there at the trade deadline in February, had really shown a commitment to him," agent Marc Cornstein said. "It's really the first place he's been, and he's been in quite a few places, that made it feel like home. I'm thrilled we were able to get this done this quickly."
Timberwolves president David Kahn made signing Milicic his first priority of the summer and he also said earlier Thursday that the team was "very, very close" to a three-year deal worth a reported $13 million with 2008 second-round draft pick Nikola Pekovic, who has been playing in Greece.
The Timberwolves declined comment on the deals, which cannot become official until July 8.
Assuming both deals become official, that's a big chunk of the team's salary cap room devoted to two unproven Europeans who will be counted on to revamp the team's front line.
That also means if the Wolves hope to land a bigger name free agent, they will have to do so through a sign-and-trade deal with another team. Al Jefferson, who has three years and $42 million left on his deal, is likely to be the main component of any potential offer.
Memphis forward Rudy Gay was scheduled to visit Minnesota on Thursday, but abruptly canceled and agreed to a five-year deal worth more than $80 million to stay with the Grizzlies. Knicks power forward David Lee is scheduled to visit on Saturday.
Coming off major knee surgery, Jefferson averaged 17.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game last season and is a much more established talent than Pekovic or Milicic, who has bounced around with four teams in his seven years in the league.
Milicic averaged 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 24 games with Minnesota last season. He started 18 of those games even though he was terribly out of shape after sitting on the bench for all but eight games with the New York Knicks.
Coach Kurt Rambis is intrigued by the potential the 25-year-old Milicic showed in the final two months of the season. He thinks the center is a better fit for the up-tempo offense the Timberwolves want to run than is Jefferson, one of the best low-post players whose skills are better suited for the halfcourt game.
"Darko, we think, could be our starting center this year and we'd like to have him back," Kahn said last week. "Pekovic we see competing for the starting job, but also playing significant minutes for us at both spots, the five and four."
-- Jon Krawczunski
AP source: Gay, Grizzlies agree on max deal
Rudy Gay landed the first max deal of the summer while LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the rest of the star-studded free agent class mulled over offers from NBA suitors.
Gay agreed to a five-year contract on Thursday that will pay him more than $80 million to stay with the Memphis Grizzlies, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The deal will pay Gay more than $13 million starting next season, with annual raises of 10.5 percent, a definite upgrade over the five-year, $50 million offer he turned down last season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be signed until July 8.
The restricted free agent was scheduled to visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday and also was lining up meetings with the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Miami Heat.
Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley vowed to match any deal that Gay was offered on the open market, and ensured those meetings would never take place by offering the 23-year-old rising star more money than any of those other teams could.
The 6-foot-8 Gay averaged 19.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in his fourth season with the Grizzlies last year and is part of a young nucleus — along with Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo — that is being counted on to turn a perennial lottery team into a contender in the powerful Western Conference.
The most highly anticipated summer in league history opened early Thursday morning, with James, Bosh, Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson and a host of other big names hitting the market.
While much of the league was waiting to see where James would land before moving ahead accordingly, the Grizzlies did not hesitate to go after their guy.
James met with the Knicks and Nets in Cleveland on Thursday and also planned meetings with the Heat, Bulls and Cavaliers in the next few days.
Wade, Bosh and Stoudemire appeared to be in a holding pattern while Johnson was in talks with his Atlanta Hawks.
But it was Gay, considered a second-tier free agent behind the Olympians at the top of the list, who cashed in first.
-- Jon Krawczynski
Nuggets hope to keep 'Melo off market in 2011
DENVER (AP) — The NBA's much-anticipated free agency period tipped off Thursday and the Denver Nuggets had one eye on a year from now when All-Star Carmelo Anthony would be the headliner.
Not if they can help it.
The Nuggets have a three-year, $65 million offer on the table to extend 'Melo's contract through 2015. He's due to make about $17 million next season, after which he can opt out and become courted and coveted like this year's superstar class that includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
"We're doing everything we can to make 'Melo the basketball version of John Elway, who plays with one team his entire career and becomes The Guy," Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien told The Associated Press during a brief break from business calls.
If 'Melo decides to wait and test the free agent waters a year from now and rejects the Nuggets' offer, the team will have to consider dealing the face of their franchise sometime before the February trade deadline.
Trading an elite player in the prime of his career such as Anthony could set the organization back several seasons, but losing him for nothing a year from now when he would be the class of the 2011 free agent market would be equally devastating.
Anthony said at the NBA finals last month that while the team has its nucleus in place, he wouldn't mind seeing the Nuggets add a couple of pieces following their first-round exit from the playoffs a year after reaching the Western Conference finals.
That doesn't necessarily mean he's waiting to see if the Nuggets can give him assurances that help is on the way. The Nuggets have long shown him they're willing to spend money and make moves to give him a strong supporting cast. They added Chauncey Billups two seasons ago and before that, Allen Iverson.
What they really pine for is another low-post presence, a need they failed to address last month when they couldn't find a trade partner to jump back into the draft.
"The need for us to add a big man is obvious," Warkentien said.
Kenyon Martin, who missed five weeks down the stretch as the Nuggets fell from 42-21 to first-round fodder in the playoffs, recently had yet another knee surgery and might not be back on the court for training camp. Same with Chris "Birdman" Andersen, whose leg injuries dogged him all last season. Nene also is coming off a leg injury in the playoffs.
Although he was terrific until getting hurt last season, Martin's expiring contract could be dangled as trade bait. But his $17 million-plus salary for next season and his latest knee surgery certainly complicates matters.
While the marquee names were drawing intense interest in free agency, the Nuggets were among many teams trying to grab the lower-hanging fruit that might very well be the final pieces to their puzzles.
"We're like everybody else. We've got phones in our ears all day and half the night," Warkentien said. "We're looking at free agents, trades, sign-and-trades. You don't know if something's going to happen or not."
And all the while they're awaiting word from Anthony on whether next year's free agent class will lack his star power.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Teams contact free agent Felton, not the Bobcats
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Unrestricted free agent Raymond Felton has been contacted by seven teams as all signs point to him leaving Charlotte.
The next step may be if the Bobcats can get compensation for their starting point guard through a sign-and-trade deal.
"We would consider a sign-and-trade with the Bobcats if it would help them and Raymond as well," agent Tony Dutt said Thursday. "I was excited by the high level of teams that contacted us."
Dutt wouldn't name the seven teams, but the Bobcats weren't among them as they appear ready to make a change in the backcourt.
The Bobcats have made no push to re-sign Felton in part because of salary-cap issues. The team's payroll close to the luxury tax, a figure owner Michael Jordan has said the team won't exceed.
Felton, the No. 5 pick in the 2005 draft, has spent his entire career in Charlotte after leading North Carolina to the national championship. After turning down a contract offer from the Bobcats worth about $6 million a season last summer, he averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 assists last season and shot a career-best 46 percent from the field.
But Felton struggled mightily in the first round of the playoffs when he was consistently outplayed by Orlando's Jameer Nelson in the Magic's four-game sweep.
When the Bobcats gave Tyrus Thomas a one-year, $6.2 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent and Tyson Chandler didn't opt out of the final year of his deal, it left Charlotte only about $2 million shy of the projected luxury tax figure and may have marked the end of Felton's time in Charlotte.
The Bobcats would like to get compensation for Felton, though, ideally a trade that includes a point guard.
D.J. Augustin is the only other point guard on the roster. Augustin showed up for the Bobcats' summer camp workout here on Thursday, but shied away from questions about Felton's possible departure.
"Right now I'm just working hard. I'm not even thinking about that. I'm not even looking at that," Augustin said. "Whatever happens with the team, that's for the guys above to decide. As a player, as a person, I'm just worried about my game."
General manager Rod Higgins last month wondered openly if Augustin is ready to be a starter. After a solid rookie season in 2008-09, Augustin struggled for much of last season, averaging 6.4 points and 2.4 assists while shooting just 39 percent from the field.
"I didn't have a great season at all," Augustin said. "I'm not blaming anybody but myself for that. I have to come out, whatever my role is, and play hard every day and do my best."
Augustin's role might increase dramatically depending on Felton, who is widely considered the top free-agent point guard on the market.
"We will continue to move through this process," Dutt said. "Raymond has a very high respect in this league on and off the court."
NOTES: G Stephen Jackson also attended the opening workout of Charlotte's rookie and free-agent camp. ... With Larry Brown on vacation, assistant Dave Hanners ran the practice and will coach the team in the Orlando summer league next week. ... The team couldn't go at full speed because condensation on the floor at the RDV Sportsplex. ... C Nathan Jawai (flight issues from Australia) was the only player on the 19-man summer roster missing Thursday.
-- Mike Cranston
Pistons' Dumars says 1st order of biz is own FAs
Joe Dumars built a champion-caliber franchise, transforming the Detroit Pistons from a 32-win team in his first season in charge to one good enough to win the 2004 NBA title during a six-year run of advancing to at least the conference finals.
Dumars didn't like what he saw last season, being relegated to watching the playoffs for the first time since 2001 — his first season as president of basketball operations — with Detroit's second-lowest victory total in three decades.
He's determined to do something about it.
When the NBA's free agency period opened Thursday, Detroit wasn't expected to be a major player, but that didn't mean Dumars planned to be idle.
"Our first order of business is to retain our own free agents, Ben Wallace and Will Bynum," Dumars told The Associated Press.
Dumars' best shot at making a splash this summer seems to be tied to trading Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton, but he won't move one or both players just for the sake of looking busy.
The Pistons are about $10 million under the salary cap, including the midlevel exception that should help them sign a solid veteran.
Dumars was determined to add size in last week's draft and he did, taking Georgetown's Greg Monroe No. 7 overall.
The Hall of Fame player knows he still has work to do.
"Joe's juices are flowing," Detroit coach John Kuester said after the NBA draft.
-- Larry Lage
Nets get contracts on opening day of free agency
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — On the opening day of free agency, the New Jersey Nets say they got a couple of signed contracts. But not one from LeBron James.
The Nets announced on Thursday that they signed free agents Ben Uzoh and Brian Zoubek, two college players who were not picked in last week's NBA draft.
The 7-foot-1 Zoubek helped Duke win the national championship, averaging 5.6 points and 7.7 rebounds. The New Jersey native averaged 4.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 133 games.
Uzoh averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 141 career games at Tulsa. The guard was named First Team All-Conference USA as a senior and Second Team All-Conference USA as a junior and sophomore.
Johnson gets $34 million to stay with Raptors
TORONTO (AP) — Forward Amir Johnson has agreed to a five-year contract to stay with the Toronto Raptors.
Agent Kevin Bradbury says Thursday the deal is for $34 million.
The 6-foot-9 Johnson played in all 82 games last season, averaging 6.2 points. He spent his first four seasons in Detroit after the Pistons picked him out of high school late in the second round of the 2005 draft.
He could get additional playing time next season, with the Raptors expecting to lose All-Star forward Chris Bosh in free agency.
Other NBA News
Phil Jackson returning to coach Lakers next season
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After just one relaxing week in Montana, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson decided he can handle another season of the NBA grind.
The two-time defending champions locked up their most important free agent of the summer Thursday when Jackson announced he'll return next season, putting off retirement for at least another year to chase his 12th NBA title.
Jackson said last week he was worn out and leaning toward retirement after the Lakers' third straight long season culminating in the NBA finals. He changed his mind after a week of rest and health evaluation at his offseason home, signing up for the unprecedented chance to win three consecutive NBA championships for the fourth time in his career.
"Count me in," Jackson said. "After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season. It'll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one."
Jackson, who will turn 65 later this year, is the winningest coach in playoff history and the most successful coach in NBA history by almost any measure.
He has a league-best .705 regular-season winning percentage, a record 225 postseason victories and two more titles than Boston's Red Auerbach, winning five championships with Kobe Bryant's Lakers and six with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. His 1,098 regular-season victories are fifth-most in league history.
The Lakers beat the Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA finals last month to claim their second straight title, wrapping up a season in which Jackson navigated Bryant, Pau Gasol and wild-card newcomer Ron Artest through numerous injuries to win the franchise's 16th title.
Los Angeles has made the finals in seven of Jackson's 10 seasons with the club, and they'll be among the early favorites to win it all again in 2011. The Lakers have surrounded Bryant with a core in its prime and signed to long-term contracts.
"We're extremely pleased that Phil has decided to return," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "He's not only the best coach for this team, but quite simply the best coach in the history of the NBA."
Jackson's health has been a constant concern in recent years, but he apparently feels strong enough for at least another year. The former New York Knicks player sometimes has difficulty getting up and down from the bench while living with two replaced hips, a sore knee requiring a brace under his suit, and a previous heart problem.
The Lakers released no immediate details about Jackson's new contract. Owner Jerry Buss was widely thought to want Jackson to take a pay cut from the $14 million he earned last season, including a $2 million bonus for winning the title, but Jackson always claimed money wouldn't be an issue, even if his proclaimed interest in retirement last week could have been interpreted as a negotiating ploy.
Brian Shaw, the former Lakers guard and Jackson's assistant coach, is thought to be Jackson's preferred successor. Shaw nearly landed the top job in Cleveland earlier this week after an impressive two-day meeting with the Cavaliers' brass, but the club abruptly hired former Lakers guard Byron Scott on Thursday — perhaps indicating Shaw is willing to wait in Los Angeles.
After last week's parade through downtown Los Angeles without Jackson, who was getting medical tests, the Lakers uniformly said they wanted Jackson with them next season. Bryant said the team would be "drastically different" without Jackson's steady, cerebral presence on the sideline.
Yet his players all had little idea what Jackson planned to do — no surprise, since the coach himself apparently wasn't sure. Kupchak knew the difficulties of replacing a coach with Jackson's singular accomplishments, saying he would be willing to wait until late July for Jackson to decide.
After winning two rings in a Knicks uniform and coaching in the CBA, Jackson won his first NBA title in his second season running the Bulls, who eventually won three straight titles from 1991-93 and again from 1996-98.
After a year off, he immediately led the underachieving Lakers to three straight championships from 2000-02, meshing the egos and talents of Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal to re-establish the team as an NBA power. Los Angeles also made the NBA finals in 2004, but lost to Detroit. Jackson then took another year off before returning to the Lakers' bench.
The Lakers have reached the last three NBA finals, losing to Boston in 2008 before routing the Orlando Magic last year for their 15th title. Jackson also became the winningest coach in Lakers history in early February, surpassing Pat Riley with his 534th victory.
With Jackson back in the fold, the Lakers will work on supplementing their depth and sorting out their situation at point guard, where veteran and playoff star Derek Fisher is an unrestricted free agent.
The Lakers reached out to Fisher in the opening hours of free agency, but could have difficulty re-signing the veteran if he gets a lucrative offer from another team. Los Angeles already is well over the projected salary cap for next season even before filling out its roster.
-- Greg Beacham
Cavaliers hire Byron Scott
CLEVELAND (AP) — With LeBron or without LeBron, Byron Scott is back coaching in the NBA.
The Cavaliers hired the former New Orleans coach on Thursday, finalizing a reported four-year contract on the same day superstar LeBron James officially became a free agent and heard offers from other teams hoping to lure him away from Cleveland.
Scott, who twice led New Jersey to the NBA finals and won three titles as a player, will be introduced by the Cavs at a 3 p.m. news conference on Friday at Cleveland Clinic Courts.
"This is a great job and an impressive organization and I am very happy to be a part of it," Scott said in a statement released by the Cavs. "Everything about it just felt like a really good fit for both me and the team. I am anxious to get going and to build on the success the Cavaliers have experienced in recent years."
Scott's hiring came after a strange series of events. At one point, it appeared the Cavaliers were nearing a deal with Los Angeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw before the team returned to negotiations with Scott on Wedneday. The sides then negotiated through the night before the 49-year-old accepted the job, an agreement his agent Brian McInerney confirmed to the AP early Thursday.
"Byron's combination of high-level success and depth of experience, both as a head coach and as a player, is a tremendous asset for our organization," Cavs general manager Chris Grant said. "He is a strong leader with a proven track record of winning in both the regular season and the playoffs. We're excited for coach Scott to get started."
He still doesn't know if he'll have James to coach.
On the first day of his ballyhooed free agency, James listened to offers from the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks. He'll be visited by the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, followed by the Chicago Bulls and then maybe another visit with the Cavs, who have been in contact with the two-time MVP throughout the offseason.
Now James knows who would be coaching him if he does return to Cleveland.
Scott was working as a TV analyst, but decided it's time to get back to doing what he loves most.
The Cavs have been looking for a coach since Mike Brown was fired May 24, ending a five-year run with the club. Brown guided James and his teammates through the most successful run in franchise history, but fell short of winning a championship.
Scott's hiring ends a twisting drama to the search.
Shaw appeared to be the favorite to become Cleveland's coach after an impressive two-day meeting with owner Dan Gilbert and Grant earlier this week. As of Tuesday, Shaw was reported to be assembling a staff to bring to Cleveland.
But despite the Cavaliers seemingly moving toward a deal with Shaw — to the point where McInerney sent out a congratulatory e-mail to Shaw through several news outlets — Gilbert never offered him a job and Grant reopened talks with Scott on Wednesday.
Scott's dream has been to coach the Lakers, but with Phil Jackson returning to the champions, he has decided to take on the Cavs, who could be better positioned to re-sign James with Scott on the sideline.
James has said he would like to play for a former NBA player, and Scott's resume includes 14 pro seasons — 11 with the Lakers. He was a teammate of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy on L.A.'s famed "Showtime" teams under coach Pat Riley and later with Kobe Bryant. He knows what it takes to win it all.
As a coach, Scott took lesser-talented Nets teams to the finals in 2002 and 2003 and had a solid relationship with star Jason Kidd that eventually unraveled toward the end of the point guard's time in New Jersey. In New Orleans, Scott took the Hornets on a surprising run to the Western Conference finals in 2008 and was close with guard Chris Paul, who is James' best friend in the league.
Before finally hiring Scott, the Cavs had an unsuccessful pursuit of Michigan State's Tom Izzo, who rejected a reported $30 million to stay with the Spartans. Cleveland was in touch with Scott during the entire search and Gilbert hosted him at his home in Michigan on Father's Day.
Scott has a combined record of 352-355, including 33-24 in the postseason with the Nets and Hornets.
-- Tom Withers
Williams hopes to resurrect career with Bobcats
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Shawne Williams was far removed from the glamor of the opening day of free agency on Thursday.
Instead of being wooed by potential suitors, the former first-round pick was running the floor with mostly undrafted rookies in what amounts to a tryout camp for the Charlotte Bobcats' summer league team.
After numerous off-court issues, arrests, weight problems and spending a year out of the league, the Williams insists he's ready to put in the work needed to make it back to the NBA and shed the label he's acquired: Bust.
"I know I have to go through all of this to get back to where I'm supposed to be," Williams said. "I'm not mad. I'm disappointed in myself, obviously."
The 24-year-old Williams, once a college star with tremendous leaping ability and athleticism, is just about out of chances. The former Conference USA freshman of the year at Memphis and 17th pick in the 2006 draft by Indiana has seen his career derailed thanks to a series of poor decisions.
"That's what it all came down to," he said. "I made a bad decision and it led to this. I made a bad decision and it led to that."
Indeed, the rap sheet is long:
— Indiana suspended him three games after he was arrested when police found marijuana in the SUV he was driving.
— He left early from a Pacers game when a murder suspect in Tennessee was arrested shortly after leaving Williams' suburban Indianapolis home.
— Police arrested a passenger in Williams' car for marijuana possession, a move that led the Pacers to trade Williams to Dallas.
— He appeared in just 15 games over two seasons and was told essentially to stay away from the Mavericks because of behavioral issues.
— The Mavericks traded Williams to New Jersey in January, but he was quickly waived after coach Kiki Vandeweghe said he was "way out of shape."
— Hours later, Williams was indicted in Memphis on eight counts of possession and conspiracy to sell a codeine-based syrup.
Jennifer Donnals, communication director of the Shelby (Tenn.) County district attorney's office said Thursday that Williams pleaded guilty in April to misdemeanor drug possession. He was placed on six months probation, ordered to undergo mandatory drug testing, attend a drug offender school and make a $10,000 contribution to the county drug treatment court.
His legal situation cleared up, the 6-foot-9 Williams found a sympathetic coach in Charlotte's Larry Brown as he tried to rekindle his career. A close friend of his college coach, John Calipari, Brown invited Williams to a free-agent camp last month in Charlotte.
"I'm a man now. I'm no boy. Anything they ask I'm just honest with the situation and just tell them everything they want to know," Williams said of explaining his past. "I tell them what I corrected and how I grew up from the situation."
Despite complaining that Williams has to lose at least 20 pounds, Brown invited him to the four-day minicamp here that will help determine Charlotte's roster for next week's Orlando summer league.
"A lot of guys in our league have had some problems, but I think that's behind him," Brown said last month. "I'm confident he'll get himself in the right kind of condition and hopefully we can give him a chance to make our team."
Charlotte may provide Williams with his best chance. The Bobcats have only 11 players under contract, had no draft picks last week, and need players willing to play for the minimum salary to avoid the luxury tax.
It's why Darius Miles, another player attempting a comeback, is also at Charlotte's camp.
"Instead of going into a place where there is one spot, like a lot of teams, or two spots or no spots, I feel like this is a good situation, a good opportunity," Williams said. "But there are a lot of guys here. Everybody is trying to get those four spots, so it's a battle."
Williams, who has averaged just 5.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 126 NBA games in four seasons, claims he's lost 10 pounds since last month's camp in Charlotte thanks to a "real strict diet and heavy training." But he has at least 15 more pounds to go before being in proper shape.
Williams also must show he can avoid the trouble that's followed him, because he may not get another shot.
"I feel like coach Brown gives everybody the same opportunity and I feel like he's just one of those coaches where he doesn't run away from the crowd that's had problems," Williams said. "He kind of brings those guys in and he tries to make a star out of those players.
"I feel like I've got a chance."
-- Mike Cranston
Pacers give Kramer a chance
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Most college players try to emulate the big-name NBA stars. Ex-Purdue guard Chris Kramer looks up to Bruce Bowen.
Like Kramer, Bowen wasn't known for his offensive skills. But he did the dirty work and was a key piece to the San Antonio Spurs' championship runs last decade. Bowen was a fixture on the NBA's all-defense teams before he retired in 2009 after a 12-year career.
Kramer, a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year, said he has studied Bowen's game for years and has drawn motivation from the pesky guard's long-term success.
"Bruce Bowen, he's bigger than me, but when it comes down to it, dude can flat out guard and he made his open shots," he said. "I'm trying to get to that point."
Kramer wasn't chosen in last month's draft, but the Indiana Pacers have given him another chance to impress NBA decision makers. He has been selected for the Indiana Pacers' summer league rookie/free agent camp roster and will have a chance to play in the Orlando Summer League next week.
Pacers coach Jim O'Brien praised Kramer's toughness and was impressed by his workout for the team before the draft.
"Tough as nails," O'Brien said. "Just brings the energy level, the intensity level of practices up just because of his toughness, his nose for the basketball, his ability to mix it up."
Playing in front of Indiana legend Larry Bird was a bit intimidating for Kramer, a Huntington, Ind., native.
"You're just really anxious, then you're kind of nervous," he said. "That's a man that's been successful at everything he's ever done. When you see him and shake his hand, you're nervous. After a while, you start playing basketball and the nerves go away."
Kramer was dependable at Purdue. He finished his career ranked second in Purdue history in games played (133), third in games started (114), fourth in minutes played (3,704) and 13th in assists (337).
He averaged just 6.5 points per game last season at Purdue while deferring to Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore. O'Brien sees potential in Kramer's offensive game, especially in Indiana's up-tempo system that emphasizes ball movement.
"He can defend, and I think he'll do positive things offensively," O'Brien said. "I think when we're running the passing game, I think that will be perfect for him from a standpoint of being able to get some offense that maybe normally he didn't get."
Kramer doesn't believe he has to be a scorer to make a team.
"Every team in the league has a Kobe Bryant, a Danny Granger, a LeBron James, so you don't have to go out here and just put up points," he said. "You can get the ball to those people, play defense, rebound, and just play hard, and you're going to impress a couple people."
If things don't work out at Summer League, Kramer could play in the NBA Development League or in Europe. He said some European teams already have shown interest.
"They way I look at it, you've got to shoot for the stars," he said. "Every kid's dream, if you've played Division I, you want to play in the NBA. That's my ultimate dream. If that doesn't work, we have Plan B.
"If I come back after Summer League and they say 'you're not good enough,' at least I'll know."
-- Cliff Brunt
Arenas changes mind on jersey, doesn't want No. 6
WASHINGTON (AP) — Agent Zero's search for a new number has taken a detour. Gilbert Arenas still wants to change his jersey, but he wants something other than No. 6.
New Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis revealed the news Thursday in his blog, but gave no other details.
"He would like a different number than new number 6 — more as it develops," Leonsis wrote.
Arenas has worn No. 0 since college, but the NBA said in March that he had filed paperwork ahead a league deadline to switch to No. 6 for the upcoming season. NBA spokeswoman Kristin Conte said Thursday that Arenas later amended his application to a different number, and that the league was OK with the change.
The number switch is part of an image overhaul for Arenas as he returns from a 50-game suspension and felony conviction for brining guns into the locker room.
Neither Leonsis nor Conte would reveal the new number, and Leonsis warned against reading too much into Arenas' change of heart, writing: "This isn't the Da Vinci Code." It isn't likely, for example, that Arenas is making room for LeBron James, who has also announced plans to switch to No. 6. The Wizards have expressed no interest in signing the free agent from Cleveland.
Grizzlies waive G Hudson
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Grizzlies have waived reserve guard Lester Hudson, a Memphis native and college star at Tennessee-Martin.
The 6-foot-3 Hudson played in 25 games as a rookie with Memphis and Boston last season, averaging 2.3 points per game. He played in nine games and averaged 4 points per game with Memphis, who signed him Jan. 8 after he was waived by Boston.
Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said Thursday it would have been difficult for Hudson to get playing time after the team drafted guards Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez.
Hudson was the Ohio Valley Conference's player of the year as a junior and senior at Tennessee-Martin.
Magic sign first-round pick Daniel Orton
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic have signed first-round pick Daniel Orton. The team made the announcement Thursday.
Orton was the 29th overall pick in the NBA draft after playing only one season at Kentucky. Terms of the deal were not immediately announced, although rookie contracts are usually for three years.
The 6-foot-10, 255-pound center played in all 38 games for the Wildcats last season. He averaged 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in limited play on a stellar Kentucky team.
Orton will play for the Magic in the NBA summer league that begins Monday in Orlando. He will likely be competing for a backup role this season. The team has deemed the 19-year-old a long-term project behind All-Star center Dwight Howard.
Curry atty says parties agree to vacate warrant
CHICAGO (AP) — The attorney for Eddy Curry says he expects authorities to vacate an arrest warrant for the New York Knicks player as early as Friday.
Attorney Mark Belongia says the agreement was reached as part of a personal injury lawsuit that had led to a warrant for Curry's arrest. A spokesman for the Cook County sheriff's office said Thursday that they haven't received any orders to quash the warrant.
Curry grew up in the Chicago area and played for the Bulls. Court records show the personal injury lawsuit was filed by Christina White. Belongia says the parties have agreed on a payment plan and that Curry has already made the first payment.
A Knicks spokesman declined to comment.
Items for sale from Chuck Daly's Detroit-area home
WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The contents of the late Pistons coach Chuck Daly's suburban Detroit home are for sale this week. The estate sale at Daly's home in Oakland County's West Bloomfield Township got under way Thursday and continues Friday.
Everything Goes Estate Liquidation president Andy Adelson tells the Detroit Free Press that Pistons memorabilia, books, furniture, rugs and mirrors are among the items up for sale.
Daly died of pancreatic cancer in May 2009 at age 78. The Hall of Fame coach led the Dream Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1992 after winning back-to-back NBA championships in Detroit.
Downey gets chance with Kings' summer league team
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former South Carolina guard Devan Downey has been named to the Sacramento Kings team in the NBA summer league. The 2010 all-Southeastern Conference star will join the team in Las Vegas from July 9-18.
Downey finished last season as the SEC's top scorer at 22.5 points a game. He left as the school's career leader in steals and in field goals attempted. He scored 30 points or more five times in the SEC last season, including 30 in the Gamecocks upset of then top-ranked and undefeated Kentucky last January.
Joining Downey on the Kings team is Kentucky forward DeMarcus Cousins, picked No. 5 overall in last month's NBA draft. Kings assistant coach Mario Elie will coach Sacramento's team in the summer league.
Jazz draft picks sign
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah's two picks in last week's NBA draft have officially signed with the Jazz. The Jazz said Thursday that Gordon Hayward and second-round pick Jeremy Evans signed before joining Utah's summer league team training camp in Orlando. Terms were not disclosed.
Hayward, who left Butler after his sophomore season, was the ninth overall pick in the draft and Utah selected Western Kentucky's Evans at No. 55.
