NBA Capsules: Mavs make offer to Nowitzki; Saturday meeting set
DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki now knows how much he’s worth to the Dallas Mavericks. Whether it’s enough remains to be seen.
Mavericks president Donnie Nelson said he made a “significant” contract offer to Nowitzki’s adviser during a meeting Friday. Nowitzki could respond as soon as Saturday, when the sides are expected to meet again.
“Everything is going in a positive direction,” Nelson said. “The communication and common intent is there. Now it’s just a matter of Dirk getting comfortable with everything and sleeping on it. This is just a normal negotiation.”
Nelson is cautiously optimistic that the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder will be back to extend his records. The most Nowitzki could re-sign for is $96 million over four years. He also could get a no-trade clause.
“We’re not celebrating yet, not doing back flips,” Nelson said.
Nowitzki opted out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time. However, he’s given the Mavs the first shot at keeping him.
Nelson was going to fly to Germany for their first get-together, but Nowitzki and adviser Holger Geschwindner offered to come to Dallas. They detoured through New York before arriving late Thursday night. The initial meeting Friday included only Nelson and Geschwindner.
“It was our first opportunity to really sit down and go through everything,” Nelson said. “It was a very productive, meaningful meeting. I think we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
The 2007 NBA MVP has spent his entire career in Dallas. He’s led the Mavericks to 10 straight 50-win seasons, but has yet to win a championship. The closest he’s come was a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA finals. The club has won only one playoff series since.
The Mavs would like to secure Nowitzki, then use his return to try wooing other free agents. Dallas can only add players through sign-and-trade deals, but has assembled many desirable pieces to prepare for such a move. Losing Nowitzki would mean a whole new plan for the summer, and for the future of a club that’s been in win-now mode in hopes of maximizing Nowitzki’s prime years.
Nelson said he’s hoping Nowitzki accepts soon, but he’s most concerned with him simply accepting.
“That’s his decision,” Nelson said. “Only he knows the timing. ... Stay tuned.”
Roundup: Wade meets Bulls again, Amare to meet Knicks in N.Y.
Dwyane Wade has said he wants to stay in Miami, but the Chicago Bulls are making him think about it.
Wade had a second meeting with the Bulls on Friday, perhaps a sign that his return to Miami isn't as guaranteed as once thought.
"Things are getting very interesting," Wade said after the 2½-hour meeting, which he said he agreed to at the team's request.
Amare Stoudemire will be on the move, possibly to the New York Knicks. He's headed to New York for a meeting, and a deal might not be far behind if the team is willing to give him a maximum salary contract.
Paul Pierce agreed to stick around in Boston and the Mavericks let Dirk Nowitzki know how much they want him to remain in Dallas, but many of the leading names in this free agency class are still available.
Though the focus has been on LeBron James, Wade and Chris Bosh, Stoudemire might be able to land big bucks before them.
When the Suns gave long-term deals to Channing Frye and Hakim Warrick, it became clear that Stoudemire was on his way out of Phoenix. His agent, Happy Walters, confirmed that the Suns were no longer in the picture and said Stoudemire was going to New York this weekend to meet with the Knicks "but we're talking to other teams as well."
Walters said there is "a structure of an offer on the table" from the Knicks. He added no matter where Stoudemire signs, it will be for the maximum of five years and about $100 million.
The Knicks might be willing to spend that if they feel they'll fall short in pitches they made to James on Thursday, and Wade and Bosh on Friday.
James received visits Friday from the Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. The Heat have also spoken to Stoudemire and Bosh as they try to find a player or players to come join Wade — if he sticks around South Florida.
"This is a very fluid process," Heat president Pat Riley said. "We've had five meetings across the country in the span of 40 hours. We will continue with the process. It's still early in free agency, but we feel very good with how our presentations have gone thus far."
Wade has long said his preference was to stay in Miami, but he's given himself options. He met with the Bulls and New Jersey Nets on Thursday, then got a pitch from the Knicks on Friday.
"It was a good meeting, it was a real good meeting and I will say I'm intrigued," he said, declining further comment before driving away.
Then he sat down again with the Bulls, his hometown team which has been considered a favorite to land James. The league's MVP will meet with them Saturday.
The Celtics' four-year contract with Pierce was not announced, but it was confirmed to The Associated Press by a Boston official familiar with the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the free agent signing period does not begin until Thursday.
"Both sides made it clear that staying together was best for the team," the official said.
Terms of the contract were not immediately available. The Boston Herald, which first reported on the deal, said Pierce would get $61 million over four years, with a mutual option for the fourth year.
Mavericks president Donnie Nelson said he made a "significant" contract offer to Nowitzki's adviser during a meeting Friday. Nowitzki could respond as soon as Saturday, when the sides are expected to meet again.
Warrick agreed to a four-year, $18 million deal with Phoenix on Friday, shortly after Frye agreed to a five-year, $30 million offer to re-sign with the Suns.
The Bucks made another move, agreeing in principle to a $40 million, five-year deal with free agent guard John Salmons, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. That came one day after Milwaukee agreed to a $32 million, five-year deal with forward Drew Gooden.
Also, point guard Steve Blake said he had a deal to join the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Deals can't be signed until July 8, after the salary cap for next season has been determined.
-- Brian Mahoney
Bulls, Cavs prepared to fight for LeBron
CLEVELAND (AP) — The preliminary bouts are finished. It's time for the main event in the fight for LeBron James, free agent extraordinaire.
Chicago vs. Cleveland. To the winner, the crowned King. Maybe.
With New Jersey, New York, Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers having come and gone after making their pitches to land James, the Bulls and Cavaliers — considered co-favorites entering the summer's LeBronathon — will have opportunities to convince the reigning MVP that they are the team for him.
The Cavs will go first at 11 a.m. on Saturday, when they will remind the Ohio-born, Akron-bred superstar that there's no place like home. The Bulls will follow at 2:30 p.m.
Chicago is counting on making a lasting impression as the last team through the door. The Bulls will tout their roster with young star guard Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. And Chicago could be working on a trump card to drop on James' table if it gets a commitment from another high-profile free agent such as Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh, a potential coup that could deliver James.
It seems to be coming down to the wire, but James is not feeling any pressure to make a decision. According to a person familiar with James' options, he has no timetable to announce where he'll play next. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the meetings, denied reports James had set July 5 as a deadline. He might be close to deciding. Just not yet.
While other teams have made splashy presentations to James over the past two days at his business offices in downtown Cleveland, the Cavs have been making themselves more appealing to him. On Friday, they introduced Byron Scott as their coach, and he didn't waste any time making a prediction on where he thinks James is headed. Nowhere.
"I think at the end of the day, he's going to make the right decision, and he'll be here in Cleveland for the rest of his career," said Scott, who insisted he did not consult with James before agreeing to a contract. "His legacy of winning championships in his hometown will be like nothing he's seen in his life.
"There's nothing like winning at home. I won three titles in my hometown, and there's not a better feeling."
The Cavs will tug at James' heart on Saturday. They are asking Cleveland fans to line East 9th Street and form a tunnel to welcome James to his meeting. Fans will carry signs saying "Home," and the team is hoping the message hits James where he lives.
On Friday, he listened intently to presentations by the Heat and Clippers. Miami used every precious second of its promised time with the King — and then some.
Team president Pat Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra, billionaire owner Micky Arison and former center Alonzo Mourning spent nearly three hours meeting with James, trying to convince him to continue his career in sunny South Florida under the palm trees and the state's friendly income tax laws.
The majority of Miami's delegation arrived at 10:20 a.m. James showed up two minutes before the scheduled 11 a.m. looking like a summer camp counselor in T-shirt, shorts and a backpack.
At 1:50 p.m., the Heat's brass paraded single file through the lobby of the IMG building without saying a word. Before getting in their cars, they passed the Clippers' two-man contingent of acting general manager Neil Olshey and executive Andy Roeser.
Olshey joked that Riley went into overtime with James.
"We showed up on time," Olshey said. "Riles went a little late. He has more to say. He's written a few books, so maybe they were going over his motivational strategies."
Roeser didn't care what they were talking about.
"We were happy to see they left empty handed," he said.
The Clippers wrapped up their meeting with James in about an hour. When they concluded, James was asked how things were going as he headed out the door.
"Good," he said.
Riley felt the same way.
"This is a very fluid process," said Riley, who wore his 2006 NBA championship ring, one of seven he owns. "We've had five meetings across the country in the span of 40 hours. We will continue with the process. It's still early in free agency, but we feel very good with how our presentations have gone thus far."
The second day of LeBronmania didn't have as much star power.
On Thursday, James met with the Nets, who brought Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov and hip hop superstar Jay-Z. The Knicks showed James a series of videos from fans and celebrities and both teams focused on basketball — and billions — during their discussions with James and his agent, Leon Rose. The presentations were designed to show James how much more money he could make outside of Cleveland.
The Heat, who are more than $40 million under the salary cap, had a different strategy. Riley's pitch focused on the possibility of him playing with Wade, a U.S. Olympic teammate and friend. The Heat also have talked about uniting the two with Bosh, who was in the same draft class as James and Wade. Riley also praised working for a willing-to-spend, not-willing-to-meddle owner in Arison and talked about what it meant to be part of the Heat family, something to which Mourning can attest.
And Riley also speaks about building a dynasty, the word he's been using with Heat fans for months. Given all that, these days could largely define a huge portion of Riley's Heat legacy.
"We feel very strongly about our commitment to Dwyane and our fans," said Riley.
James granted the Clippers an audience, but it's hard to imagine them making a more compelling argument for him to sign with Southern California's "other" NBA team.
The club does have a nice core group of young players, including center Chris Kaman, forward Blake Griffin (a No. 1 draft pick in 2009) and guards Baron Davis and Eric Gordon. The Clippers also trumpeted Hollywood and the potential of adding wealth in the entertainment industry.
While other teams had more theatrical displays, the Clippers kept things simple as they showed LeBron why he should love L.A.
"We had a DVD, and it showed all the places that he's already eaten, all the beaches he's already gone to and all the clubs he already knows about and all the business opportunities he'll be able to engage in," Olshey said. "But what's important is Baron Davis and Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman as his starting five. That's what's important to him. He's well educated on that. He knows our team."
That's what the Cavs are counting on, too. James knows them better than anyone — vice versa.
"We all know — and LeBron knows — how important he is here," Cavs GM Chris Grant said during a news conference. "We've established a championship-caliber culture. We've won a lot of games the last few years. I feel we're knocking on the door."
-- Tom Withers
Wade meets with Bulls again, says decision hard
CHICAGO (AP) — The sweepstakes for Dwyane Wade has gotten a lot more interesting.
The Miami Heat star on Friday wrapped up his second meeting in as many days with the Chicago Bulls, who are clearly intrigued with the possibility of landing the free agent guard — perhaps as bait in addition to his skills. The meeting came on the eve of the Bulls' pitch to LeBron James, the top free agent in this extraordinary year.
Wade shrugged when asked if the Bulls made an offer during the 2½-hour meeting,
"Things are getting very interesting," he said.
Wade was asked whether James will have any influence on what he does.
"We're both going to make our own decisions," Wade replied. "Of course, we're real good friends. But you know, we're on two different pages right now. He's in Cleveland. I'm in Chicago. We're doing two different things. I don't know.
"It's going to take the weekend for everyone to think about what they want to do. This is not an easy decision to make and everyone thinks it is."
Wade's morning started with the Knicks, who became the fourth team in two days hoping to lure Wade away from the Heat. The two sides met for 2 hours and 15 minutes.
"It was a good meeting, it was a real good meeting and I will say I'm intrigued," he said, declining further comment before driving away from a downtown hotel. Wade met with the Bulls and then the New Jersey Nets on Thursday, and he heard from the Heat when free agency opened.
As Wade talked with the Knicks, Heat president Pat Riley was spending about three hours in Cleveland with James, who Wade would love to team up with next season.
And given the interest Wade is showing other clubs, it's obviously incumbent upon Riley to deliver a star to Miami.
Despite his ties to Chicago — a home and family, including his mother, and a pastor who has a church that her son purchased for her in the city — Wade has said repeatedly he would like to stay in Miami. But he did structure his last contract for the opportunity to become a free agent for the first time.
Wade is expected to return to Florida next week, and it's believed that's when he and Riley will talk. Wade is scheduled to join Heat executive Alonzo Mourning for a Tuesday news conference about their annual Summer Groove, a fundraising weekend for youth programs and other charitable causes. Wade is expected to play in an all-star game as part of that weekend on July 18.
Fellow free agent superstar Chris Bosh tweeted that he and Wade dined Thursday night in Chicago and posted a picture to prove it. Bosh also said "it feels like someone is missing," an apparent reference to James.
Before free agency began, Wade's camp said he had discussed various options at separate times with both James and Bosh.
Just for a little more intrigue, Bosh had another meeting late Friday. With the Bulls.
"I'm done with my visits ... For now at least. I need some rest," Bosh tweeted.
Chicago has nearly $30 million in salary cap room available and has made a series of moves to add as many as two marquee players to go with All-Star point guard Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Taj Gibson. The Bulls are coming off back-to-back, 41-win seasons.
The Bulls also met with Carlos Boozer and David Lee on Friday, raising the possibility that their frontcourt could be in for an overhaul.
-- Andrew Seligman
AP Source: Suns out of Amare picture after 2 deals
PHOENIX (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says Amare Stoudemire's days with the Phoenix Suns are over after the team reached contract agreements with forward Hakim Warrick and center Channing Frye.
The person told The Associated Press that Warrick agreed to a four-year, $18 million deal on Friday, shortly after Frye agreed to a five-year, $30 million offer to re-sign with Phoenix. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contracts can't be signed until July 8.
The two agreements mean any deal with Stoudemire would put the Suns far over the amount the franchise is willing to pay. The two sides negotiated for three hours without success Wednesday night just before the deadline for players to become free agents.
Stoudemire's agent, Happy Walters, confirmed that the Suns were no longer in the picture. He said Stoudemire was going to New York this weekend to meet with the Knicks "but we're talking to other teams as well."
Walters, who said Stoudemire leaves Phoenix with no ill will, said any new agreement would be for the maximum five years and $99.7 million, regardless of the team.
The agreements with Warrick and Frye first were reported by Yahoo! Sports.
The Suns turned to the 6-foot-9, 219-pound Warrick after it became apparent the Stoudemire talks were at a stalemate, reportedly over the length of the deal.
A former first-round draft pick (19th overall), Warrick has averaged 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in five NBA seasons, the first four with Memphis. He signed with Chicago and appeared in just 28 games for the Bulls before he was traded to Milwaukee, along with Joe Alexander, for John Salmons.
Warrick appeared in 76 games last season, six as a starter for Milwaukee.
The smooth-shooting, 6-foot-11 Frye emerged as a major weapon in Phoenix's high-scoring offense after he signed a one-year contract with a player option for a second season. Rarely a 3-point shooter in his first four NBA seasons with the New York Knicks and Portland, the slim sharpshooter led the Suns with 173 last season.
The Suns initially offered $25 million but sweetened the deal after Drew Gooden reached agreement on a five-year, $32 million contract with Milwaukee.
-- Bob Baum
Bosh meets with Knicks, Bulls
CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Bosh met for more than two hours each Friday with the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls, the latest suitors for the busy free agent forward.
Bosh showed up at the same hotel where Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade met with the Knicks earlier Friday. In a tweet, Bosh called the Knicks' presentation during a meeting that lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes "another impressive one."
He told reporters he felt "like a kid at Christmas."
"You've got to enjoy this," he said. Asked if there were any offers, he said "No, not yet. Everything is still pending."
Knicks officials were not available.
Late Friday, Bosh spent more than two hours meeting with Bulls executives at the United Center. Chicago also met with Wade — twice — and was scheduled to meet with LeBron James on Saturday.
Henry Thomas, the agent for both Bosh and Wade, said no deals had been reached but that he was encouraged by presentations to his clients.
After seven seasons in Toronto, Bosh has been one of the busiest players in the free agency bonanza. He met with Rockets in his hometown of Dallas early Thursday, then flew to Chicago for sessions with the Heat and New Jersey Nets.
Nets feel LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh were impressed
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New coach Avery Johnson thinks the New Jersey Nets' free-agent pitches to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were right on target.
They were so good that the disappointment of a franchise-worst, 12-win season suddenly has been replaced by optimism.
The team that once lived and died with Dr. J. now believes it has a shot at LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh.
At least that's the impression given Friday, a day after the Nets opened their talks with 'The King' in Cleveland, then jetted to Chicago to make pitches to Wade and Bosh.
"We told our story. We showed our vision," a smiling Johnson said Friday after putting Nets rookies and free agents through a practice for an upcoming summer league. "We talked about how we already have some valuable assets and that's all you can do. We understand there is competition out there and at the end of the day those prospective free agents, they are going to do what is best for them and their families."
The one concern Johnson had heading into the meetings was whether the players would be attending with open minds.
After roughly six hours with James, Wade and Bosh, Johnson is certain they listened.
His proof?
It was the concentration that James, Wade and Bosh exhibited as Russian billionaire and new owner Mikhail Prokhorov delivered his global outlook for the Nets down the road.
It was the questions the players asked of outgoing president and general manager Rod Thorn and Johnson about the team's basketball operations and its talent.
And there were the inquiries directed toward marketing maven Brett Yormark about the endorsement opportunities both in New York and worldwide, those extra bucks beyond the contract.
Of course, there was the superstar magnet — Jay-Z. The minority owner was there just in case the top three weren't enough. He even spent a few extra minutes with LeBron to plead the case.
Johnson said the meeting with James went well, as did those with Wade and Bosh later in the day.
"(We're) very optimistic about them," Johnson said. "That's the way you have to look at them because you can't get inside any of these guys' heads and know exactly what is going on. But we laid it out for those guys. I saw eye contact. They asked really good questions. There were there like they really wanted to be there. That's all you can ask for."
Whether that will be good enough to get any of them signed is uncertain.
The Knicks, Bulls, Cavaliers and Heat are all offering vaults of money to James, Bosh and Wade, and each has compelling reasons for them to sign contracts.
All the Nets can do now is wait.
There have been reports that James will make his decision by Monday, which makes the next 72 hours a time to worry.
"I am waiting for my cell phone to ring, to get an e-mail," Johnson said. "Even though I don't Twitter, if someone sends me a message on Twitter and they want to come sign with us, some kind of way I'll get it. Avery Johnson Jr. will get anything."
The Nets' march into free agency didn't end on Thursday until Prokhorov's private jet landed around 2:15 a.m.
"We had a game plan and we had an order and it was really organized and we stuck with that all through the process," Johnson said. "Again, we did our homework, with whom we wanted to go when and who we wanted to talk about certain subjects. So we had a game plan and we followed it to a T."
Johnson said the Nets didn't hold a formal dress rehearsal for the meetings with the players.
After a moment though, he stopped and smiled.
"We had little meetings up until that point," he said. "We had mini-shootarounds getting ready for game day."
Unlike games though, there is no score for this one. Just signatures that count.
-- Tom Canavan
AP Source: Celtics agree to terms with Pierce
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have agreed to terms with captain Paul Pierce on a deal that could keep the MVP of their 2008 title run with the team for another four seasons.
The contract was not announced, but it was confirmed to The Associated Press by a Celtics official familiar with the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the free agent signing period does not begin until Thursday.
“Both sides made it clear that staying together was best for the team,” the official said.
Terms of the contract were not immediately available. The Boston Herald, which first reported on the deal, says Pierce would get $61 million over four years, with a mutual option for the fourth year.
Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss had no comment. Pierce’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
Pierce has spent his entire 12-year career with the Celtics and is second only to Larry Bird among longtime Celtics in points per game. Pierce is also first in franchise history in 3-pointers, second in steals, third in total points, eighth in games played and ninth in rebounds.
Pierce opted out of the final year of a contract that was to pay him $21.51 million next season. By re-signing quickly for less, he creates cap room, gets long-term security for himself and gives the team a chance to keep together the core of the 2008 champions for another run in 2010-11.
Coach Doc Rivers, who had been considering taking a year off, said this week he would return. Ray Allen, who is a free agent, has said he wants to return to Boston.
With Kevin Garnett under contract for two more years, that would preserve the new Big Three that led the Celtics to an NBA-record 17th championship two years ago. Garnett missed the 2009 playoffs with a knee injury; the Celtics returned to the NBA finals this spring before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
Pierce, 32, was the 10th overall pick in the 1998 draft from Kansas. He is the last remnant of the ill-fated Rick Pitino era, and his tenure stretches through two trips through the NBA lottery as the once-dynastic franchise tried to restore its former glory.
In 2007, after going 24-58 to earn the fifth overall pick in the draft, the Celtics considered trading Pierce and trying to rebuild with youth. Instead, they acquired Garnett and Allen and won the NBA title in their first year.
For Pierce, it meant giving up his role as a go-to guy who had averaged as many as 26.8 points per game. His numbers dropped — he averaged 19.5 points over the past three years — but the Celtics reached the NBA finals twice in three years.
Pierce has 19,899 points in 884 games, all for the Celtics.
--Jimmy Golen
AP source: Bucks, Salmons agree for $40M
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Another day, another deal for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have suddenly become one of the biggest buyers during the most-hyped free agency period in NBA history.
The Bucks made another major move Friday, agreeing in principle to a $40 million, five-year deal with free agent guard John Salmons, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity Friday because the deal can't become official until next Thursday.
The move to lock up Salmons, who played for the final half of last season with the Bucks, came one day after free agent power forward Drew Gooden agreed to a $32 million, five-year deal.
The Bucks said Friday they planned to announce new deals with the players when the signing moratorium period ended. Players and teams may negotiate and strike deals, but nothing can be officially signed before Thursday.
While neither move is a max contract deal that will likely lure the top of the class to sign like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh, the Bucks are putting the finishing touches on a rotation that will likely be the same for some time.
The 6-foot-6 Salmons arrived in a trade with Chicago last season and played a critical role in helping the Bucks reach the playoffs for the first time in four years. Salmons carried the Bucks down the stretch, taking pressure off rookie point guard Brandon Jennings and center Andrew Bogut and averaging 19.9 points per game.
More telling, the Bucks went 22-8 with him and took Atlanta to seven games in the first round.
When Salmons, Jennings and Bogut played together before Bogut's season-ending arm injury, Milwaukee won 18 of 23.
Now, all three will see several new faces, including Gooden, who agreed to sign with the Bucks for the midlevel exception, and forward Corey Maggette, who was traded to Milwaukee from Golden State just before the draft.
The Bucks' front office has spent the better part of the last three seasons building financial flexibility with several inflated deals left over from previous management.
Milwaukee's starting lineup will mostly likely be Jennings, Salmons, Maggette, Gooden and Bogut. The Bucks control the rights to all five for at least the next three seasons.
The Bucks also traded for guard Chris Douglas-Roberts and drafted three new players while trying to fill nine roster spots this offseason.
-- Colin Fly
Boozer talking with Bulls
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls have met with Utah's Carlos Boozer, one of at least three power forwards on their free agent wish list.
Boozer met with the Bulls on Thursday and more talks could be held, a person with knowledge of the meeting told with The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not have authority to speak publicly about the team's moves.
New York Knicks forward David Lee and Toronto's Chris Bosh, two more power forwards, were also expected to meet with the Bulls on Friday.
Chicago was making a second pitch to Miami's Dwyane Wade on Friday and is expected to talk with LeBron James on Saturday, the biggest names in the deepest free agency bonanza in NBA history.
The Bulls have nearly $30 million in salary cap room available and are hoping to add as many as two marquee players to go with All-Star point guard Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Taj Gibson. The Bulls are coming off back-to-back, 41-win seasons that also included first-round playoff losses.
Boozer is an eight-year veteran who has been a stalwart for the Jazz, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game over his career. Lee is a first-time All-Star who averaged 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds last season, while Bosh is a dominant low-post player who's averaged 20 points and nine rebounds over seven years with the Raptors.
Lee also planned to meet with Miami on Friday in Chicago, then was scheduled to visit Minnesota on Saturday, according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein.
-- Andrew Seligman
Blake says he has deal with Lakers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Steve Blake says he has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Blake told Portland radio station 95.5 FM on Friday that he has a four-year deal with the two-time defending champions, who might lose starting point guard Derek Fisher in free agency.
NBA teams can't sign players until next week.
The veteran point guard could replace the 35-year-old Fisher, who won his fifth title with the Lakers last month but is an unrestricted free agent. Fisher said he would like to return to the Lakers, but could be looking for a bigger deal than the team could offer.
Blake, a seven-year veteran, played for Portland and the Clippers last season.
Other NBA News
AP source: Union delivers CBA proposal to NBA
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA players' union has sent a proposal for a new labor agreement to the league, an official with knowledge of the bargaining process said Friday.
The proposal was delivered Thursday, although no details were provided by the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the sides aren't commenting publicly.
The NBA has been awaiting a counterproposal from the players since All-Star weekend. That's when the league's initial proposal was taken off the table after what union executive director Billy Hunter called a "contentious" 90-minute bargaining session in Dallas.
The union said the league's proposal called for reductions in the length and amount of contracts, which would become only partially guaranteed. It also sought to greatly reduce the players' share of basketball-related income from the 57 percent they currently receive.
The league hoped the counterproposal would come quickly, but Hunter made it clear that was doubtful. He said owners wanted a new deal in place before this summer's highly anticipated free agency period opened, but the players were in no rush because they contend the current system is working.
"It's going to be incumbent on the owners to try to convince us of the urgency of getting a deal between now and July 1," Hunter said after the All-Star weekend session. "And the way they started, they made a false start and so what they did was they kind of set things back a bit."
The current deal expires June 30, 2011. Though both sides believe they can reach an agreement that would prevent a work stoppage, they are far apart on many issues. They will meet in the coming days to determine next season's salary cap, but there are no bargaining sessions scheduled.
Commissioner David Stern has said the league would lose $400 million this season, a figure the union disputes. Owners haven't seemed to be hurting for money in the early days of free agency, with players such as Drew Gooden and Amir Johnson both getting deals for more than $30 million, and Memphis giving Rudy Gay about $80 million.
News of the proposal was first reported by CBSSports.com.
-- Brian Mahoney
Paul wants Hornets to show urgency to win
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chris Paul kept his message to his fans, and his team, fairly simple. He loves New Orleans. He hates losing. So at some point soon, something has to give.
"I would love to be here. I want to win many, many championships here," the Hornets' three-time All-Star point guard said during a charity golf event for his CP3 Foundation. "I just want to make sure we're committed to winning. ... I love everything about the city, but at the end of the day, I want to win and I don't want to win years from now. I want to win now."
The 25-year-old Paul may not have much choice where he plays for the next two seasons. The Hornets have said they're not interested in trading him, even as offers pour in from other clubs, and Paul will not be able to opt out of his contract until the 2012-13 season.
The club apparently took a key step toward placating their top player with the hiring of new head coach Monty Williams, a move Paul applauded. Still, Paul wants to see the Hornets, who missed the playoffs last season, take an aggressive approach to free agency this summer.
"I would love to get very active in free agency because there's some players out there, there's some stars out there, guys who've been extremely successful in this league," Paul said. "We obviously have to do something. ... We have to make adjustments, different things like that in order to contend with these great teams in the NBA."
The problem for the Hornets is that they may not have much to spend in free agency this year if they want to avoid paying the NBA's luxury tax. Even after a draft-day trade that will send Morris Peterson and his $6.6 million salary to Oklahoma City, New Orleans' payroll will remain at a little more than $66 million.
The luxury tax threshold is expected to be around $69 million — possibly a little lower — and the Hornets still must sign rookies Craig Brackins and Quincey Pondexter, who'll join New Orleans on July 8 when the trade that sent Peterson and the Hornets' 11th overall draft choice, Cole Aldrich, to the Thunder becomes official.
When last season ended, it appeared the Hornets' ability to take financial risks would be strengthened by a verbally agreed upon sale of the club from majority owner George Shinn to minority partner Gary Chouest.
The team had scheduled a news conference to introduce Chouest as the new owner, then called it off when undisclosed complications in the negotiations arose. Hornets president Hugh Weber said the sale has been further slowed by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, causing uncertainty in the industry in which Chouest's company, Edison Chouest Offshore, operates.
That has left open the possibility that Shinn, who has never paid the NBA luxury tax since he founded the Hornets in Charlotte in 1988, will remain the majority owner when next season begins.
Chouest has consistently declined to comment on the status of the sale, and team spokesman Harold Kaufman said Shinn also did not wish to discuss the matter publicly at this time.
Meanwhile, the Hornets have moved on with the hiring of Williams as coach, a first-time head coach who, despite his inexperience, drew high praise from Paul.
Williams is "a great man, someone I have the utmost respect for," Paul said. "He's committed to winning and working hard. ... He's just an unbelievable guy and I'm glad that he's here."
Although Paul missed 37 games last season with three injuries — a left ankle sprain, a torn meniscus in his left knee and a torn ligament in his right hand — he said he now feels great and showed no signs of trouble teeing off at his golf outing.
Paul said he has not yet decided whether he will play for the US national team at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey, which begin in late August.
-- Brett Martel
Cavs introduce Byron Scott as Clips talk to James
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Byron Scott fondly remembers winning championships with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.
The new coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers says he's confident LeBron James will choose to contend for NBA titles near his roots, too.
"There's nothing like winning at home," Scott said Friday afternoon at the team's practice facility.
Scott said he didn't try to contact James, respecting his privacy, but spoke to people close to him to gauge what he's like as a person.
"I think at the end of the day, he's going to make the right decision and he'll be here in Cleveland for the rest of his career," Scott said. "His legacy of winning championships in his hometown will be like nothing he's seen in his life."
While Scott was introduced at a news conference, James was hearing a pitch from a fourth team — the Los Angeles Clippers — trying to lure him away from the only franchise he's played for near the place he was born and raised.
The Cavs — with owner Dan Gilbert, general manager Chris Grant and Scott — are scheduled to make their appeal for James to re-sign with the team Saturday morning before the Chicago Bulls become the sixth and final team expected to have an audience with the two-time MVP.
"I've won some championships, so I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to be successful on this level. That'll be the first thing you tell him," Scott said. "One of the other things you tell him is, I think this is the right time, I think I'm the right coach and I think this team has the ability right now to reach the championship."
Scott won three titles as a player with the Lakers. As a coach, he led New Jersey to the 2002 and 2003 NBA finals before going on to coach the New Orleans Hornets for five-plus seasons.
Those qualifications led to the team deciding Scott was a good fit to replace fired coach Mike Brown, who was let go on May 24 after a a five-year run with the club in which the franchise was successful in the regular season and disappointing in the playoffs.
The Cavs settled for Scott after Michigan State coach Tom Izzo turned down a chance to make about $6 million a season in Cleveland, and Lakers assistant Brian Shaw didn't get the job after he appeared to be the favorite this week.
"The coaching search has gone great because we ended up with the right guy," said Grant, who declined to confirm reports that Scott signed a four-year deal.
If the Cavs can't convince James to stay, though, it might not matter who is on their sideline.
Scott insisted the uncertainty surrounding James didn't make him pause when the job was offered.
"I really didn't wrestle with it at all," he said.
Paul Pressey, one of Scott's assistants in New Orleans, will be on his staff with the Cavs.
The 49-year-old Scott said he has evolved as a coach after being fired by the Hornets — nine games into last season — and becoming a head coach for the first time in New Jersey and getting canned midway through his fourth season.
"I learned to listen better," Scott said. "My communication is much better."
Scott seems to have something on his resume James wants from a coach — NBA playing experience — after a solid 14-year career.
He was a teammate of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy on L.A.'s famed "Showtime" teams under coach Pat Riley before choosing to stay in the game as a coach.
Scott started his career on the bench as a Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings assistant, then made his debut as a head coach during the 2000-01 season with the Nets. The native of Inglewood, Calif., was respected and successful enough to be selected the NBA coach of the year in 2008 when the Hornets won a franchise-record 56 games and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals. He has a 352-355 record in the regular season and 33-24 in the playoffs.
"I'm definitely proud coach Scott got that job out in Cleveland," Hornets star Chris Paul said at his charity golf tournament in New Orleans. "I probably was one of the first people to call him and congratulate him — woke him up. I'm really excited for him because coach is family to me, and everybody knows that."
-- Larry Lage
Bobcats’ Jackson vows to be trimmer, more focused
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — To understand why Stephen Jackson showed up for the Charlotte Bobcats’ summer camp featuring mostly undrafted rookies and journeymen, you need to know what he’s been dreaming about.
It’s a recurring nightmare, really.
Not even sleep allows Jackson to escape the way the franchise’s best season ended, with a listless performance in the final game of Orlando’s four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs.
“I had a dream about that last game probably three times since the season has been over with,” Jackson said Friday.
Jackson used colorful language to describe how he relives the season finale, shaking his head as he thought about going 2 of 11 from the field and committing four turnovers to make for a quick exit in the Bobcats’ first playoff appearance.
“It’s sad to say I wasn’t focused in the fourth game of a playoff series,” Jackson said. “That’s been kind of hard on me. I just want to get better.”
Combine that with coach Larry Brown’s strong suggestion that he become leaner, and Jackson was back on the court a couple weeks ago, the earliest he’s returned in the offseason in his 10-year NBA career.
“If I would have been 10 to 15 pounds lighter, I would have been moving a little better, my defense would have been better,” Jackson said. “A lot of things would have been better. So when he told me that, I definitely agreed with him.”
The 6-foot-8 Jackson said he played at 240 pounds, bulking up because he began the season in Golden State, where he played mostly small forward. Jackson moved to shooting guard when the Warriors gave in to his trade demands after his run-ins with coach Don Nelson and shipped him to Charlotte in November.
He went on to average 21.1 points in 72 games with the Bobcats, squashing any concerns about how his sometimes volatile persona would mesh with the demanding Brown. Jackson helped lead to the Bobcats to a franchise-record 44 wins and the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
But the postseason wasn’t kind. Jackson hyperextended his left knee in Game 1, shot 6 of 18 and missed a key 3-pointer in the final minute of a close loss in Game 3, then was a non-factor with eight points in the series finale.
“I know how important this comeback year after making the playoffs is to (owner Michael) Jordan and the organization and the city,” Jackson said. “That’s another reason I’m here working.”
But next season’s team could have a different look. The Bobcats, close to the luxury tax, have made no attempt to re-sign point guard Raymond Felton. With Felton getting interest from other teams, D.J. Augustin could be promoted to starter. The trade-happy Bobcats could also pull off a deal to get Jackson a new backcourt mate.
“Whatever happens, everybody has to be prepared for it,” Jackson said. “Ray is my little brother, so I just want the best for him. Whether it’s here, whether it’s wherever.
“Obviously, we made a big step with getting to the playoffs with Ray at point guard. So if he’s here I’ll be happy. If D.J. has to step up, I’ll support him.”
Whomever plays point guard will play with a different-looking Jackson, he vows. Not only does he plan to get down to 225 pounds, Jackson indicated his game will change after an offseason chat with Brown.
“LB wants me to average a triple-double. ... That’s a big compliment. He’s a Hall of Fame coach,” Brown said. “I think what he means by that is to find a way to make my teammates better. But when it’s (pressure) time, that’s when it’s time for me to take over. I’ve got to find the fine line between that.”
With Gerald Wallace returning after his first All-Star season and with Charlotte interested in keeping restricted free agent Tyrus Thomas, Jackson feels the Bobcats can be a playoff team again next season. Jackson had high praise for Derrick Brown, who was used little as a rookie but is part of the Bobcats’ summer league team.
Jackson has clearly warmed to Charlotte, thriving last season and staying out of trouble as he slowly improves an image tarnished early in his career by his role in the Auburn Hills, Mich., brawl in 2004 and other off-court incidents
“I still feel like I’ve got something to prove,” Jackson said. “I think just being around the game is going to help me get better.”
-- Mike Cranston
Stephenson may be answer for Pacers at point guard
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Lance Stephenson grew up watching Jamaal Tinsley dominate on New York City playgrounds, and he eventually did the same.
Now, Stephenson is following in Tinsley's footsteps again. Tinsley began his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers in 2001 after two years at Iowa State. The Pacers took Stephenson with the 40th overall pick this year after the prep phenom played one year of college ball at Cincinnati.
The Pacers hope Stephenson doesn't replicate his fellow Brooklyn native's penchant for finding trouble. Tinsley lived up to lofty expectations before off-the-court problems and injuries derailed a potentially great career with the team.
Stephenson, too, has had issues.
He was one of the nation's top prospects coming out of Lincoln High School, which had produced first-round picks Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair. But he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being accused of groping a 17-year-old girl in New York. After a solid year at Cincinnati, he was projected by some to be a first-round pick. He slid, likely because of his issue back home and a reputation for being difficult to coach.
Stephenson is aware of his critics, but he's focused on moving forward. He'll take his first steps toward doing so next week in the Orlando summer league.
"It don't matter what happened in the past," he said. "It's what I can do on the court, and that's help the team win and try to get better."
Team president Larry Bird said he was shocked that the former Cincinnati star was available in the second round.
"Obviously, we don't feel like it's a gamble," he said. "To get a talent like him at 40 on a young kid that we know has a chance to be very good is something we had to do."
The Pacers have been reeling since the brawl between Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans in 2004. In the years following the brawl, the team had numerous brushes with the law, including several involving Tinsley. Bird has spent the past several years trying to clean up the team's image by shipping troublemakers out, so his selection of Stephenson raised some eyebrows.
Bird researched Stephenson's situation and decided to take a chance.
"We did a thorough investigation," he said. "We talked to a lot of people in Cincinnati, and he hasn't done anything in a long time. He's fine. He's a young kid that made mistakes. I made a few myself along the way.
"Everybody deserves a second chance. He understands what we're trying to do here. We've talked about what would happen if something else went wrong."
Fans will notice another similarity between Stephenson and Tinsley — a scowl. Stephenson said it's misunderstood.
"In New York, we're tough," he said. "We never back down from anything. A lot of people think the angry face means we're going to hit somebody or something. That's definitely not what we're thinking about."
Stephenson has great respect for Tinsley's game and reputation back home.
"Great point guard," he said. "He's very competitive."
It's easy to see why one might take a chance on Stephenson. He's 6-foot-5 with a powerful physique and handles that earned him the nickname, "Born Ready," at the famed Rucker Park. He has that moniker tattooed on his right arm.
"I felt like that was a great name for me because when I'm on the court, I think as soon as the ball is tipped, I'm ready," he said. "I stuck with it."
Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said he's going to try Stephenson out at point guard, but he wants him to look to score first.
"Our scouts — we knew right from his time in high school that he's the kind of guy who can create his own shot, and he has great decision-making ability," he said. "We think he's a very talented, strong, hungry individual."
Stephenson could be part of the answer at point guard for the Pacers. T.J. Ford has fallen out of favor with the team, Earl Watson is a free agent and A.J. Price is injured.
Stephenson appears to be a good fit for Indiana's fast-break style, but Bird said the youngster has some learning to do.
"We watched him play a lot last year," he said. "We know he's a really, really good basketball player, but he's just 19 years old. It's going to take some work on his part, our part to try to teach him a lot of things, but if he gets it, he obviously has got the ability to play."
Stephenson just wants to play. He wasn't even upset about falling in the draft, instead saying he was just happy to have a chance to make it in the league.
"If coach wants me to be a starter, I'm going to try my best," he said. "I'm going to try to learn the plays as quick as possible, try to learn how the team wants to be organized. Whatever coach wants me to do, that's what I'm going to do"
-- Cliff Brunt
Celtics sign top draft pick Avery Bradley
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have signed top draft pick Avery Bradley.
Bradley was the No. 19 overall selection in last week’s NBA draft.
Bradley was a shooting guard in his only year at Texas. He will serve as Rajon Rondo’s understudy at point guard.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Bradley averaged 11.6 points last year. As a high school senior, ESPN chose him the national player of the year and the No. 1 prospect in the country.
Bradley is known as a strong defender and good outside shooter but a weak free throw shooter.
Nets rookie Damion James has sprained right elbow
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Nets rookie Damion James has a sprained right elbow.
James, who was acquired in a draft-draft deal with Atlanta, missed the Nets rookie and free agent practice on Friday. His status for next week's summer league in Florida is uncertain.
The 6-foot-7 James averaged 18 points and 10.3 rebounds as a senior at Texas.
The Nets sent the rights to guard Jordan Crawford and German center Tibur Pleiss to the Hawks for James, the 24th pick overall. Jordan was the 27th pick in the draft and Pleiss the 31st
New Jersey took power forward Derrick Favors with their first pick at No. 3.
Henry, Vasquez on Grizzlies' Summer League roster
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Recent first-round draft picks Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez are on the Memphis Grizzlies' NBA Summer League roster.
Joining them are veterans O.J. Mayo, Hasheem Thabeet, Darrell Arthur, Hamed Haddadi, DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young.
The team, announced Friday, will be coached by Grizzlies assistants David Joerger and Damon Stoudamire, Director of Pro Personnel Mitchell Anderson and scout Gary Schmidt. Their first game is Monday, July 12.
Games are at the COX Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
