http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2507013

It appears that the first two shocks in NBA free agency will emanate from Serbia.

Indiana forward Peja Stojakovic, widely considered a lock to re-sign with the Pacers, is on the verge of a jump to the upstart New Orleans Hornets, ESPN.com has learned. NBA front-office sources indicate that the Hornets are offering Stojakovic a five-year deal in the $60 million range.

Peja Stojakovic
Small Forward
Indiana Pacers

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
40 19.5 6.3 1.7 .461 .903

Sources also tell ESPN.com that the Los Angeles Lakers are close to swiping a player from their co-tenants in the Staples Center, but it's not Clippers guard Sam Cassell. The Lakers, sources said, were inching closer Saturday night to a verbal agreement with Clippers sharpshooter Vladimir Radmanovic on a five-year deal starting at the $5 million mid-level exception and worth in excess of $30 million.

Vladimir Radmanovic
Power Forward
Los Angeles Clippers

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
30 10.7 5.7 2.1 .417 .731

The Hornets have never been known as offseason spenders with George Shinn in charge, but the owner has hinted recently that he was chasing "a big-name free agent," and his club does possess two crucial advantages in their bid to tempt Stojakovic away from the Pacers -- more than $15 million in available salary-cap space and a coach who knows the player well. Byron Scott, who received a three-year contract extension from the Hornets earlier this week, played against Stojakovic in Greece before the 29-year-old made the jump to the NBA in 1999 and later worked with him in Sacramento as a Kings assistant coach.

The Lakers' cause is also undoubtedly helped by a Serbian connection in attempting to convince Radmanovic to switch locker rooms at Staples. Serbian legend Vlade Divac, a former national-team colleague of Stojakovic and Radmanovic and now a member of the Lakers' front office, can explain to Radmanovic better than anyone how badly they need a dependable shooter to help space the floor for Kobe Bryant.

Divac has been hoping to bring Stojakovic to the Lakers ever since leaving Sacramento in the summer of 2004, but that would require a complicated sign-and-trade arrangement because L.A. can't offer more than the $5 million mid-level exception. Radmanovic, like Stojakovic a 6-foot-10 perimeter specialist, is a more realistic mid-level target after averaging 10.7 points (on 41.8 percent shooting from 3-point range) and 5.7 rebounds in 30 games with the Clippers.

The Clips, craving a big forward who could stretch the floor for Elton Brand, dealt Chris Wilcox to Seattle on Feb. 14 for Radmanovic. The Clippers, according to NBA front-office sources, are now expected to reach a verbal agreement with Phoenix Suns forward Tim Thomas to replace Radmanovic.

Re-signing Cassell and Radmanovic were the Clippers' top two offseason priorities and Cassell, in an ESPNEWS appearance Saturday, indicated that the Clips still have the inside track on retaining the 36-year-old point guard.

"It's looking pretty good for them," said Cassell, who recently hired high-powered NBA agent David Falk to secure him a two-year deal.

Stojakovic averaged 19.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in 40 games with Indiana after the Kings sent him to the Pacers on Jan. 25 in exchange for the mercurial Ron Artest. But a knee problem limited Stojakovic to two games in the Pacers' six-game, first-round series with New Jersey, and his departure would leave Indiana without anything to show for the Artest trade.

NBA signings and trades can't advance past the stage of verbal agreement until July 12.

...and his departure would leave Indiana without anything to show for the Artest trade.

That's some champion-caliber management[smilie=burgerking.:[smilie=burgerking.:[smilie=burgerking.:[smilie=burgerking.:[smilie=burgerking.:[smilie=burgerking.:.

Three cheers for the Indiana Pacers!

I swear I saw Vlade Divac to the Lakers...

So Peja over Claxton? This could be a good move as the Hornets are pretty weak at the 3 but Peja blows ass

I figured when Indy drafted a SF they knew Peja was gone. I think this is what is best for the Pacers mgmt. I think in some ways Walsh was rooting for this he tried to trade Tinsley nobody wanted him for "fair" value, which how can you blame anyone considering me misses 30 games a season, he wanted to move O'Neal but no deal was worth losing a top 15 player, top 10.

Now Walsh can make some deals to clear up money and look to re-build.

Radmon, I don't know how I feel about him he is a weird player, some nights I like his game others hate it. For the MLE I like the signing, but I think LA needs to deal Odom. I wouldn't mind Odom but don't know if Sheed is too much or little.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5750290


Stojakovic agrees to terms with Hornets


OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The New Orleans Hornets made the first splash of the NBA's free-agent signing period, agreeing to terms Saturday with three-time All-Star Peja Stojakovic.

Stojakovic, who last week opted to become a free agent instead of continue playing for Indiana, will sign a five-year deal worth about $64 million with the Hornets, said his agent, David Bauman.

Bauman said Stojakovic will sign as soon as the NBA's moratorium ends next week. NBA teams were allowed to begin negotiating with free agents on Saturday but cannot officially sign players until July 12.

After playing his first seven seasons with Sacramento, the Kings dealt Stojakovic to Indiana in a midseason trade for Ron Artest. He averaged 19.5 points and shot 46 percent from the field in 40 games with the Pacers but then missed four of Indiana's six playoff games against the New Jersey Nets with a right knee injury. The Pacers lost each game he didn't play.

Stojakovic, 29, opted out of the final year of his six-year contract in hopes of getting a long-term deal and a bump in salary. He had been due to earn $8.125 million next season.

Stojakovic is one of the league's most prolific outside shooters, having hit 40 percent from 3-point range over his eight-year career. He and Seattle's Ray Allen are the only two NBA players to make at least 100 3-pointers in each of the past seven seasons.

Last season, he finished 13th in 3-pointers made (162), and was also second in free-throw shooting (91.5 percent).

Prior to his trade to Indiana, Stojakovic missed nine games - including one against the Hornets - with a variety of injuries including a protruding disc in his lower back, a sprained right pinkie finger and a strained groin.

For his career, Stojakovic has averaged 18.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.

Peja isnt ass...his role there will be perfect


there was too much pressure in indy so it wouldnt have worked


NO is gonna be my new 2nd fave team

ESPNEWS reporting that Cassell rejects Clips offer and says he's leaving

ESPNEWS reporting that Cassell rejects Clips offer and says he's leaving


If he wants a multi-year deal, he can find it elsewhere.

ESPNEWS reporting that Cassell rejects Clips offer and says he's leaving


If he wants a multi-year deal, he can find it elsewhere.

If Ben comes back (or we get some good value back in a S&T), we gotta sign cassell. He said he wants 2 years.

ESPNEWS reporting that Cassell rejects Clips offer and says he's leaving


If he wants a multi-year deal, he can find it elsewhere.

If Ben comes back (or we get some good value back in a S&T), we gotta sign cassell. He said he wants 2 years.

If he wants to come for the LLE, he's more than welcome.

If not, he can fuck off. He's not even worth half the MLE.

If he wants to come for the LLE, he's more than welcome.

If not, he can fuck off. He's not even worth half the MLE.

You're insane. He put up 17/3/6 last year, and took the freaking Clippers to the Conference Semi's. The CLIPPERS! He's a proven winner. He's worth every penny we could give him.

If he wants to come for the LLE, he's more than welcome.

If not, he can fuck off. He's not even worth half the MLE.

You're insane. He put up 17/3/6 last year, and took the freaking Clippers to the Conference Semi's. The CLIPPERS! He's a proven winner. He's worth every penny we could give him.


LMAO

What exactly do you think are the odds of a 38-year old PG staying in one piece for ANOTHER season?

Please. 2006 used up what little gas he had left in the tank.

PGs that are pushing 40 typically don't last without getting hurt.

whoever pays sam the MLE will regret it greatly. Of course, nobody is that dumb so I doubt itll happen.

A 38-year old PG. Yeah, that's who I want Joe to give his MLE dollars too.

LMAO

What exactly do you think are the odds of a 38-year old PG staying in one piece for ANOTHER season?

Please. 2006 used up what little gas he had left in the tank.

PGs that are pushing 40 typically don't last without getting hurt.

Well, he lasted just fine as a starter playing 35+ minutes per game. He'll get much less than that, and do just fine. What makes you think he'll deteriorate overnight? Don't give me this "38 year old PGs" crap. Look at Gary Payton or John Stockton. PGs can last quite a while. Sam isn't exactly a high flyer here.

LMAO

What exactly do you think are the odds of a 38-year old PG staying in one piece for ANOTHER season?

Please. 2006 used up what little gas he had left in the tank.

PGs that are pushing 40 typically don't last without getting hurt.

Well, he lasted just fine as a starter playing 35+ minutes per game. He'll get much less than that, and do just fine. What makes you think he'll deteriorate overnight? Don't give me this "38 year old PGs" crap. Look at Gary Payton or John Stockton. PGs can last quite a while. Sam isn't exactly a high flyer here.

Gary Payton blows.

Stockton was a freak.

Sam will last 40 games and get hurt knowing he has another year left on his deal. I'm not so sure he wasnt just playing for a new contract next year.

Plain and simple, his body is too old for another long-ass season and a long playoff run.

If Sam is our #2 FA signing, then fine. It's worth the risk.

If Sam is our MLE signing, it's ridiculous beyond belief.

Sam will last 40 games and get hurt knowing he has another year left on his deal. I'm not so sure he wasnt just playing for a new contract next year.

He played 78 games last year as a STARTER (2 or 3 where he sat down intentionally to tank games at the end of the season). Why would he all of a sudden become a cripple? Sorry but that is baseless. We have no reason to believe he'd miss a ton of games. (Besides, didn't our current backup miss a ton of time this year?)

He has a history of talking about contracts, but he doesn't have post-contract disappointment years like the problem guys. There is no reason to think he'd start now.

I'll reply to your edit as well...




Plain and simple, his body is too old for another long-ass season and a long playoff run.

Is that why his numbers actually went up in the post-season after playing 35mpg for 78 games in the regular season? What about this leads you to believe he couldn't handle less than 20 minutes per game? I just don't see how you can assume something when there are no signs of it happening.

Sam will last 40 games and get hurt knowing he has another year left on his deal. I'm not so sure he wasnt just playing for a new contract next year.

He played 78 games last year as a STARTER (2 or 3 where he sat down intentionally to tank games at the end of the season). Why would he all of a sudden become a cripple? Sorry but that is baseless. We have no reason to believe he'd miss a ton of games. (Besides, didn't our current backup miss a ton of time this year?)

He has a history of talking about contracts, but he doesn't have post-contract disappointment years like the problem guys. There is no reason to think he'd start now.


I'll say it again:

He's a 38-year old PG that just came off a very gruelying season plus wo playoff rounds.

If you don't realize how hard it's going to be for him to duplicate that durability at HIS age, you're crazy.

Waaaaay too risky for the MLE.

LLE, yes. Sammy even gets 2 years out of the deal, and we dont waste money ona guy that has a 50/50 shot at best of lasting the season.

No team in the NBA will offer sam a multi-year deal at MLE price range. It's a complete joke to even consider it.

No team in the NBA will offer sam a multi-year deal at MLE price range. It's a complete joke to even consider it.

Well, I've replied to everything else in that post a couple times already, so I'll just say we'll see about that. I wouldn't be suprised to see Atlanta offer him a 2 year / 15 Mil deal or something just to see if he can duplicate his magic from the Clippers. Time will tell, but I'd be willing to bet he gets the MLE at least, and for 2 years.

As long as he doesn't get the MLE from us, I don't care.

BUt I highly doubt it happens.

Well, espnnews was wrong... (and I was right)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakeclip2jul02,1,3188262.story?coll=la-headlines-sportss


Throughout the day, Cassell was weighing three options: a two-year, $13-million offer from Atlanta, a two-year, $11-million offer from the Clippers and a three-year, $12-million offer from Denver. After learning Atlanta was the highest bidder, Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy told Cassell to give him a number to get the deal done, sources said.

Good. Keep him away from us at $6 million per season.

Wasn't Sam suppose to go to the Lakers?

I wouldnt mind him here but I think he's gonona start bitching about more minutes...if he comes.

I'd take Bonzi over Sam anyday.

The only thing I hate about Peja leaving Indy is that they aren't a lock to make the playoffs anymore, and could hurt the Orlando pick. Sucks.