Cavs signed Jamario Moon to an offer sheet.

Damn, Matt Barnes going to Orlando

Damn, Matt Barnes going to Orlando

I would have figured Pietrus would get the back-up 2 and 3 minutes. Don't think there would be much time for him in Orlando, great depth though.

2 yrs at $3.2m is a steal for Barnes.

That guy never gets paid what he is worth for some reason.

What the heck do they do with Pietrus and Barnes? I guess one of them will have to be starting with Turk gone. Can Vince play SF? Or did they pick up someone else that I'm forgetting?

Nelson
Pietrus
Carter
Lewis
Howard

Hawks expecting a veteran (big man) visitor tomorrow that will upstage the mini-camp gathering. Details to come shortly.

Big Ben?

Sean May to sign with the Kings.

Looks likes Sekou was referring to Joe Smith (visiting the Hawks).

More from Sekou


HAWKSVILLE - Who said the Hawks were done chasing big men this summer?

You didn’t hear it around these parts, at least not officially (from me).

Barring a last minute change of plans, veteran big man Joe Smith is scheduled to visit town on Wednesday, according to two of my best spies. And the Hawks are not out of the running for Ben Wallace, who has yet to agree to terms with Detroit (though, one of my best spies up north insists that it’s just a matter of time before Wallace returns to the Pistons).

A 6-10, 225-pound veteran of 14 NBA seasons, Smith showed he has plenty left in the tank against the Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, averaging 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 points and 1.2 blocks in a little over 21 minutes per game. He’s got that “old man” strength that belies his seemingly slender frame. I watched him push the Hawks’ around in that series whenever he was on the floor.

Smith’s numbers (10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds) in the Cavaliers’ first round sweep of Detroit were even more impressive. He’s capable of that kind of production off the bench for a quality team, which speaks volumes for the type of veteran and pro that he has become since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 draft.

Pair him on the frontline with Zaza Pachulia behind Josh Smith and Al Horford and the Hawks’ paper-thin frontcourt rotation suddenly takes on a different look. While it’s far from the “championship move” many have argued for around here, it’s certainly a move in the right direction (provided the Hawks are able to recruit him and sign him at some point between now and training camp).

The Hawks’ other big man options aren’t exactly ready to fade into the background. I mentioned Randolph Morris the other day and he’s shown well so far. Jeff Schultz caught up with him after Tuesday morning’s mini-camp practice for an interesting update on what he’s been up to this summer.

Another player to keep an eye on for a training camp invite is Othello Hunter. His minutes were sparse as a rookie last season, but the strides he made (physically and in his game) have been stunning to see from a year ago this time. It’s not clear right now what his future is with the Hawks. There are only going to be so many roster spots to go around. And without a guaranteed contract heading into camp, he’ll be gambling a bit if he comes to camp with the Hawks. But I like his game and what he brings in terms of a no-nonsense reserve that’s going to get to it whenever he’s asked.

I spoke with an Eastern Conference executive Tuesday afternoon that wanted to know what the Hawks were going to do with Solomon Jones. Funny, Jones asked me the same thing last week. I answered his question with the same question he asked me. He’s a restricted free agent, so you almost expect his summer to last a bit longer than most. Still, he’ll become an option for not only the Hawks but plenty of other teams looking to fill out the rotation with a long and athletic (even if he’s still a bit undersized) big that can play spot minutes when necessary.

Garret Siler has his chance to make an impression over the next 36 hours or so. He played well enough in summer league to get some looks from several other teams, so the Hawks will have to make a decision about what they want to do with him regarding training camp. One hilarious story that’s already made the mini-camp rounds is that it takes an entire roll of tape to properly tape up one of his ankles. I have to admit he is one of the largest human beings I can remember cutting corners in the hawks’ locker room during my time here. It’s on the floor, though, and particularly against Morris, Hunter and guys like Earl Barron, where we’ll be able to gauge Siler’s readiness for the rigors of the NBA.

There are still a few names left on the free agent radar, the most notable being Johan Petro. He hasn’t signed anywhere yet and could still be an option for the Hawks should things not work out with one of the other guys mentioned above.

Enough about these big men already. It’s time for some actual scrimmage action here shortly (the next time the Hawks have a mini-camp that has more drills than scrimmages in the first two days we should stage a non-violent protest in the name of the game). The blog will be open for business all night. I’ll be dipping back and forth between the blog and Twitter throughout the evening if you want to join the party.

What the heck do they do with Pietrus and Barnes? I guess one of them will have to be starting with Turk gone. Can Vince play SF? Or did they pick up someone else that I'm forgetting?

Nelson
Pietrus
Carter
Lewis
Howard

Bass @ PF, I would have thought he would start and they'd move Shard to SF.

I knew I was forgetting something. That sounds right to me, jturbo. I've even talked about it before.

Read a rumor that Theo Ratliff is going to San Antonio.

That would be a good signing for them.

Read a rumor that Theo Ratliff is going to San Antonio.

That would be a good signing for them.

DONE. deal.

1 yr, vet's min.

Hoopsworld, but not bad.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13415

FLIP MURRAY SIGHTING

So the Spurs and Orlando load up, Lakers are back talking with Odom's agent and Boston got Sheed.

Cleveland got Shaq...

If I'm Lebron I'd stop worrying about a lazy block attempt turned dunked on video and start worrying about where I'm gonna live in NYC.

Cleveland are pulling a Toronto - failure to surround your legit franchise player with quality team mates should cost you...

But I doubt Lebron leaves the Cavs no matter what. He's the hometown boy. If he bolts he'd likely be shot before he could get to the airport.

He would become NY's hometown boy. He should have left last contract.

He's the hometown boy.
This is flawed logic that gets tossed around constantly.
If someone is from Toledo, OH, or Ann Arbor, does that mean they're from Detroit?
What about Stamford, CT, Bridgeport, CT, or Newark, NJ? Does that mean you're from New York City?
Those are all the same distance or closer than Akron is to Cleveland. I don't think "hometown" has anything to do with his stay in Cleveland if that's what happens.

I doubt hed go to nyk

This is flawed logic that gets tossed around constantly.
If someone is from Toledo, OH, or Ann Arbor, does that mean they're from Detroit?
What about Stamford, CT, Bridgeport, CT, or Newark, NJ? Does that mean you're from New York City?
Those are all the same distance or closer than Akron is to Cleveland. I don't think "hometown" has anything to do with his stay in Cleveland if that's what happens.

It depends on where you hang out I would say. If I was from Ann Arbor, I probably didn't hang out in Toledo. But if I'm from Akron, I may have hung out in Cleveland mostly.

It really depends on whether you associated your life with that city before playing there.

Maybe that's where he bought all of his weed?

The Wizards signed Oberto for the all-too-familiar sum of $1.9m.

Andre Miller to the Blazers.

Good get for them.

Andre Miller to the Blazers.

Good get for them.

3yrs/$21m

Well, they have to be done with moves now. No way they trade for a higher priced wing. They'll just use Outlaw/Fernandez/Bayless along side Roy.

Well, they have to be done with moves now. No way they trade for a higher priced wing. They'll just use Outlaw/Fernandez/Bayless along side Roy.
Do you mean Batum?

So does Andre end up signing with the Knicks now instead?

Do you mean Batum?

No I didn't, but add him in there. Bayless will probably mostly play SG with Miller and Blake at PG.

I think they want to deal Blake.

Before they committed to Miller, the Blazers made a strong push for (David) Lee, a power forward. On Tuesday night, Blazers coach Nate McMillan and front-office executives Kevin Pritchard and Tom Penn had dinner with Lee in Las Vegas to make their recruiting pitch.

One source said the Blazers offered Lee a variety of options, including an opt-out clause that would have made him an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2011.

But the Knicks and Portland could not agree in discussions Thursday on any kind of a sign-and-trade deal, and the Blazers did not want to risk losing Miller over the seven-day waiting period had they chosen to use their cap space to tender an offer sheet to Lee, which New York would have had the right to match.

Lee, attending Team USA's mini-camp in Las Vegas, confirmed the Tuesday night recruiting meeting and said he was intrigued by the possibility of playing for Portland, although he never thought a deal was close.

"At this point it's going to come down to sign-and-trades vs. trying to get something worked out with New York," Lee told ESPN.com. "Sign and trades, with base-year and compensation and all that stuff, can get complicated. But I think there's enough teams out there that we've had contact with that are excited about trying to get something done that it's a possibility we can do it."

If Portland gets Lee (assuming Pryz, Aldridge and Oden are all still there)...what then?

I would assume they'd want to move Pryz. Tay for Pryz and Outlaw?
(Webster or Blake would have to be in the deal to match). Guess it all depends on what they'd move for Lee.

I think they chose the sure thing in Miller over signing Lee to an offer sheet and possibly not getting either of them.

Now if Joe D could start talking to Lee's agent and the Knicks to see if there is a match with Rip or Tay...preferrably Rip.

Give Lee 125% of Rip's salary at this point, I don't care.

I'd love to do a Lee/Jeffries for RIP/Max deal somehow.

hakim warrick is about to become an URFA. i don't imagine he'd want the vet's minimum though.

Toronto just signed Nesterovic


Source: Toronto Raptors agree to one-year deal with Rasho Nesterovic: The Toronto Raptors have come to an agreem.. http://bit.ly/Cxa9F

thank god! we're off the hook. i know we need bigs and he's OK and all. but......no thanks.

That pretty much cements Ben's return, eh?

That pretty much cements Ben's return, eh?

Ben X2!!!!!!!!!

I bet they start him first home game. They seriously are going to need a crash cart near Mason for the intro.

Hmm what number would he wear?

#33?

(Sorry GHill)

Maybe #6?

(Sorry TMills)

#3 + #3 = #6?

Then what does Jonas Jerekbo wear? i believe he is slated to wear the #33

He can wear "DNP-CD"

Or he can wear #33 in Ft. Wayne

Hey I live in Ft. Wayne now. Actually it will be nice to watch a couple of them play out here. I will give you guys an update of how sucky they are.

The Dallas Mavericks have struck a deal with unrestricted free agent Drew Gooden to make use of some of the money they got back when Orlando matched their offer sheet earlier this month to restricted free agent Marcin Gortat.

Gooden announced via his Twitter feed shortly past midnight Saturday that he is signing with the Mavericks. "Dallas here I come," he wrote. In response, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted: "Welcome Drew."

Sources with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com that Gooden is receiving a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $4.5 million with incentives that will likely take it beyond $5 million by season's end. A formal announcement of the signing is expected Monday or Tuesday.

Wow, I wanted Gooden in Det but I wouldn't have liked the move for that kind of money. I expect a good season from him, though.

Hmm what number would he wear?
Any chance he gets his #3 back and Stuckey makes a switch? They'd have to sign him soon for that to happen. They wouldn't let Stuckey switch numbers for AI to keep his #3, but they did let Sheed switch numbers a few games into his Pistons tenure, then back to his original a few years later. Guys change numbers all the time.

Free-agent forward Tim Thomas is scheduled to be in Dallas on Tuesday for a face-to-face meeting with Mavericks officials that will likely lead to a contract offer for the 12-year veteran.



Thomas

No deal has been finalized, but the Mavericks have coveted Thomas as an off-the-bench shooter all summer to add some perimeter punch to their second unit.

"We're hoping to complete a deal soon," Bob Myers, Thomas' agent, told ESPN.com.

He's been around 12 years? Dang.

Mavs signed Tim Thomas.

EARL WATSON IS A PACER!!!!

Argh.

The Mavs have no answer at center though.

top 4 in the west, but still lack toughness.

All the elite teams are just signing whoever the fuck they want...should be a fun season!!!!!

Don't they have Dampier still?

UncleBuck is probably creaming himself right now.

(This post is for the benefit of one poster.)

Don't they have Dampier still?

thats it. they really could have used gortat

This could be a pretty good bargain for them

New Orleans Hornets sign free agent forward Ike Diogu (http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2009/07/new_orleans_hornets_sign_free.html)

Hawks free agent forward Marvin Williams and the Hawks have worked out an agreement, a source tells Yahoo! Sports. More details to come.

:hollinger:

A league source just told me Odom is going back to the Lakers.

:stein:


According to one source with knowledge of the deal, it's for $33 mil over four years if the Lakers pick up the option on the final year

Hakim Warrick to the bucks

Hakim Warrick to the bucks

1 year, $3m is a pretty good price for him

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on guard Salim Stoudamire, General Manager John Hammond announced today.


Hey Hammer, that guy can shoot threes. You shoulda called me first!

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on guard/forward Bruce Bowen, General Manager John Hammond announced today.


Hmm, he can still hit that corner 3, can't he? Nah, we're all set on D anyways.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed free agent guard Kevin Ollie.

The 36-year-old Ollie has appeared in 637 games over 12 seasons spread over 11 different teams. He has averaged 3.8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.6 rebounds.

Last season, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 4.0 points, 2.3 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 50 games, including 21 starts, with the Timberwolves.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced Ollie's contract Saturday. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Presti says Ollie brings experience, leadership and professionalism to the team as it develops its roster on and off the floor.

Olympiakos is supposedly offering Iverson 10 mil/2 years.

It would be fun to hear about Iverson ruining a European powerhouse team.

They're after Kleiza, too.

^Weren't we too?

Marvin Williams got 5yrs/$38m to stay with the Hawks

That's not bad. Starts around $6.3m.

If you want to figure out salaries, this is pretty handy:
Salary Calculator (http://bornforthegame.com/nbasalcalc.php)
You just have to punch in numbers and look at the years until you get close, but its better than our guesses.

Joe Smith sign 1 year vet's min deal with the Hawks.

Good value there.

especially considering their backup power forward is...um...fucking no one

@alleniverson Well I'm about to begin another workout session. Agent informed me that Memphis made us an offer on yesterday. Stay tuned.

@alleniverson Well I'm about to begin another workout session. Agent informed me that Memphis made us an offer on yesterday. Stay tuned.
Yup, that's AI.

There are reports that Sessions is about to sign an offer sheet with...

The Twolves?

twolves could be a dangerous team in the future if they can find a swingman

I think they still need a PG or two.

Source: Ramon Sessions, Minnesota Timberwolves agree on four-year offer sheet - http://tinyurl.com/mj5k4l

A Flynn, Sessions, Rubio backcourt?

And the raping of John Hammond continues.

Rubio said he isn't coming over this year. I bet they trade his rights before next year anyway.

New York Knicks to finalize one-year deal with David Lee, source says http://bit.ly/d02p3

AI to the Grizzlies


God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career. I met with Mr. Heinsley, Chris Wallace and my next head coach Lionel Hollins


I feel that they are committed to developing a winner and I know that I can help them to accomplish that. I feel that I can trust them.

^tweets

"Heinsley" FTW

The Sixers got Rodney Carney for the minimum.

That's a good signing.

He's barely an NBA player. Minimum is the going rate for guys that can't play.

Gla LOVES cheap ass wack players.

He's barely an NBA player. Minimum is the going rate for guys that can't play.

I don't know what you have against him, but you need to let it go.

He's a rotation-caliber NBA player on a average team like the Sixers. Deal with it.

He's barely an NBA player. Minimum is the going rate for guys that can't play.
I agree. He's a career %42 shooting forward (who has shot %40 and %41 the last two years). That's bad for a guard, let alone a 6'7" guy you'd expect to get some easy buckets around the rim. He also has a 0.5/2.0 assist/turnover ratio so you know he doesn't handle the ball well either. He's a back of the bench guy so the minimum is the correct price.

The grizzles are going to have a hard time making everyone happy. You have OJ Mayo, Iverson, Rudy Gay, and Zach Randoloph all trying to get shots...