NBA Thread

[GM Franchise]

Nets/Celtics working on blockbuster trade.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9429958/sources-brooklyn-nets-seek-trade-boston-celtics-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce

Fast-moving trade talks between the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics that would land Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Brooklyn have reached the point that the teams were trying to reach verbal agreement on the framework of a deal by the end of Thursday night, according to sources familiar with the talks.

The last step to the teams signing off on the trade, sources said, is convincing Garnett to waive his no-trade clause, with talks to that end between Garnett and Celtics officials commencing Thursday night.

"It's in the hands of KG and Boston management now," a source said.

No trade between the teams can officially be consummated until July 10 -- when a leaguewide moratorium on signings and trades is lifted after free agency begins July 1 -- but the teams are making fast progress toward finalizing the trade parameters.

"It's very serious and can happen very soon," one source close to the talks said.

According to a Yahoo! Sports report, Brooklyn has agreed to send three first-round picks (2014, '16 and '18) along with Kris Humphries' expiring contract, Gerald Wallace, Tornike Shengelia, Reggie Evans and a sign-and-traded Keith Bogans to the Celtics for Pierce, Garnett and Jason Terry. By agreeing to add Terry to the trade, sources said, Brooklyn alleviated some of Boston's concerns about absorbing the remaining three years and $30 million on Wallace's contract.

Pierce has a team option for $15.3 million that the Celtics would have to pick up by week's end for such a deal to have any shot in July. Because Pierce is making nearly $17 million this season, Brooklyn needs the deal to wait until after the start of free agency and the lifting of the moratorium on July 10, since the $15.3 million figure is used in the trade.

Yahoo! Sports reported the Nets' pursuit of Garnett and Pierce as a package. The New York Daily News reported earlier this week that the Nets were chasing Garnett. Sources told ESPN.com the Nets hatched the idea of trying to acquire both Boston stalwarts in the same deal because Pierce's inclusion is seen as the surest way to persuade Garnett to waive his no-trade clause.

The addition of Garnett and Pierce to the trio of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez would appear to give the Nets one of the most formidable rosters in the NBA under rookie coach Jason Kidd.

Earlier this offseason, Boston denied the Nets permission to contact then-head coach Doc Rivers, who eventually left to coach the Los Angeles Clippers.

But the Celtics, now that Rivers has departed, are a team in transition that is said to be looking to accelerate the rebuilding process by chasing draft picks and creating cap space.

Information from ESPNNewYork.com regular contributor Mike Mazzeo was used in this report.

[Justin]

I'd take him No. 1 overall instead of Noel.

I called it.

[GM Franchise]

I called it.

I've seen the guy play multiple times last season since I go to UNLV and he's not a number one caliber guy from what I saw in those games.

[Cory]

anyways he put Canada on the map, huge things for BBall here. especially with Wiggins next year.

[GM Franchise]

Garnett and Pierce to the Nets is a done deal. Blockbuster trade is finalized.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9429958/sources-boston-celtics-brooklyn-nets-agree-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-deal

[GM Franchise]

Charlotte Bobcats draft party crowd reaction to the pick of Cody Zeller. lol

Bobcats Draft Party Crowd Reaction To Cody Zeller Pick

[GM Franchise]

Good news, Clippers fans. Chris Paul reportedly resigning with the Clippers.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9438022/chris-paul-remain-los-angeles-clippers-representatives-tell-teams-sources

[¿PapaPancho?]

Good news, Clippers fans. Chris Paul reportedly resigning with the Clippers.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9438022/chris-paul-remain-los-angeles-clippers-representatives-tell-teams-sources

No celebrations until the ink meets paper

[GM Franchise]

Chris Paul agrees to 5 year, 107 million extension to stay with the Clippers.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9440281/chris-paul-accepts-5-year-107m-extension-los-angeles-clippers

Chris Paul has verbally agreed to a five-year, $107 million contract extension to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers, his agent, Leon Rose, confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com on Monday morning.

Paul can't sign his new contract until July 10 but could agree to terms as of 12:01 a.m. ET.

"I'm in. ClipperNation," Paul tweeted.

Doc Rivers becoming the Clippers' new head coach and senior vice president of basketball operations earlier this week assured that Paul would remain in Los Angeles, according to sources.

The chances of Paul leaving the Clippers were slim even before Rivers was named coach. But sources have said he had at least entertained the thought of going to the Atlanta Hawks with Dwight Howard, who also will enter free agency.

Paul will become the second high-profile player to sign a long-term extension with the Clippers in the past two seasons. Blake Griffin signed a five-year, $95 million extension last summer.

[GM Franchise]

Tyreke Evans to the Pelicans

[urlhttp://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9450752/tyreke-evans-headed-new-orleans-pelicans-three-team-trade-according-sources][/url]

New Orleans Pelicans Get
Tyreke Evans, PG
Jeff Withey, C
Sacramento Kings Get
Greivis Vasquez, PG
Two second-round picks
Portland Trail Blazers Get
Robin Lopez, C*
Terrel Harris, SG
*- Blazers will pay $1,568,999 to cover Lopez's trade kicker

The New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to terms on a three-team deal that will cement Tyreke Evans' move to the Pelicans, according to sources with knowledge of the talks.

Three-Team Trade Details
The Pelicans, Kings and Blazers have agreed to a trade centered around Tyreke Evans. Here's what each team will receive, sources told ESPN.com:

The trade -- which can't be officially completed until July 10 -- will send Evans to the Pelicans via sign-and-trade, with Sacramento receiving guard Greivis Vasquez from the Pelicans and Portland acquiring New Orleans center Robin Lopez.

Sources say that Portland, to complete the trade, will send 2013 second-round pick Jeff Withey to New Orleans, two future second-round picks to Sacramento and also will acquire guard Terrel Harris from New Orleans along with Lopez. The Blazers also will be required to pay the $1,568,999 trade kicker triggered in Lopez's contract because he's being dealt.

The Pelicans could not acquire Evans or complete their draft-day trade for Philadelphia's Jrue Holiday without shedding salary, so they have been pursuing trades all week while putting the finishing touches on a four-year, $44 million offer sheet to Evans, a restricted free agent.

New Orleans had the option of waiving Lopez by Friday's deadline for a mere $500,000 to buy out the final two years of his Pelicans contract, but Portland has been after the big man for days.

Sacramento jumped into the mix to take Vasquez from the Pelicans after it became apparent the Kings were not going to strike a deal with Detroit Pistons free-agent guard Jose Calderon.

The Pelicans immediately identified Evans as their top priority in free agency and were sold on him even further, sources said, when Evans told team officials he'd be willing to come off the bench if necessary.

That sacrifice enables them to go into the season with a three-man backcourt rotation of Evans, Holiday and Eric Gordon and thus no need to rush into trading Gordon, whose future in New Orleans has been debated ever since last summer. That's when Gordon signed an offer sheet of his own with Phoenix and publicly urged the Pelicans to let him go to join the Suns.

[GM Franchise]

Dwight Howard to the Rockets according to sources.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9453005/dwight-howard-join-houston-rockets-sources-say

Omer Asik doesn't want Howard, might want out of Houston.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9453164/omer-asik-houston-rockets-want-play-dwight-howard-source-says

Andre Igoudala to the Warriors according to sources.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9452879/golden-state-warriors-get-andre-iguodala-dwight-howard-chase-source-says

[Justin]

Josh Smith is going to get overpaid in Detroit.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, MICHAEL JORDAN ACTUALLY SPENT SOME MONEY AND GOT A GOOD PLAYER FOR THE BOBCATS/HORNETS!!!!!!!!

[GM Franchise]

The Charlotte Hornets are coming back.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9491180/nba-approves-name-change-charlotte-bobcats

The Charlotte Hornets are back.

The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved changing the Charlotte Bobcats name back to the Hornets beginning for the 2014-15 season during its summer meeting Thursday in Las Vegas.

The Hornets brand became available when the New Orleans Pelicans officially gave it up earlier this year as part of their own name change. The Charlotte Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002, and the Bobcats joined the league as an expansion team in '04. Commissioner David Stern said Bobcats owner Michael Jordan has been in discussions to get the Hornets name back since he bought the team in 2010.

"We're thrilled to bring back the Hornets to Charlotte and the Carolinas," Jordan said in a statement. "The passion and enthusiasm around this name change by fans in this market has been unmatched. They overwhelmingly told us what they wanted, we listened and we couldn't be happier with the Board of Governors' approval of the name change. With the young team we are developing on the court, the direction of our business and the return of the Hornets name, we are extremely excited about our future. The buzz is back!"

The Hornets led the NBA in attendance for seven consecutive seasons in Charlotte, but the Bobcats have not been as successful in the market, which spurred the movement to return to the name.

"It is so true that it was a subject of conversation for the last couple of years," Stern said. "Fans of the old Hornets would say, 'Please give us back our Hornet name.' I laughed at it initially. But it stayed there bubbling below the surface, and there's something to it."

The Bobcats' website hailed the return of "Buzz City," and team officials said 2,000 season-ticket holders turned out at a downtown party that turned into a celebration of the name change. Fan favorite Muggsy Bogues and other former Hornets including Rex Chapman, Kelly Tripucka, Dell Curry and Kendall Gill attended as well.

"We want to reach back and grab some of that equity that the Hornets earned in our community," Charlotte COO Fred Whitfield said. "They did a lot of great things off the court. They were involved in the community. They became very accessible to the Charlotte fans and citizens of Charlotte. We want to reach back and grab some heritage and use it as we move forward to build a brand with our young team that continues to improve."

The NBA owners handled several other pieces of business at the meeting, including:

• They voted to expand the use of instant replay to include reviews on block/charge calls in the restricted area, better known as the "no-charge zone." Officials now can stop the game to check whether a defender was in the restricted area on such a call.

"You always try to level the playing field and basically get it right," said Kiki Vandeweghe, the league's new vice president of basketball operations. "That's the main focus is getting calls right."

Stern said the move could add time to games, and the league was continuing to look at creating a centralized replay system in which offsite officials would judge replays to speed up the game. He said the league might add a fourth referee to the playoffs next season to act as replay official on the sideline.

• Officials also will be able to use instant replay to review whether a player had started his shooting motion on shooting fouls and whether a foul was committed before a ball was inbounded.

• Instant replay also can be used during any instant-replay situation to assess penalties for flagrant fouls observed during the review.

• It will no longer be considered a clear-path foul if the defender who commits the foul is ahead of the offensive player in the frontcourt at any point before the foul.

• The controversial flopping policy the league instituted last season will be left alone for the 2013-14 season. Stern hinted during the NBA Finals that flop warnings followed by $5,000 fines for second offenses were not enough of a deterrent. No player was given a fine for a third offense last season. The league's competition committee recommended no changes.

• It will now be a violation and an automatic turnover if an offensive player stands out of bounds and doesn't immediately return to the floor. This addresses a recent trend in the league of players standing out of bounds under the basket in an attempt to pull defenders out of position or hide from the defense. There will be no penalty for extenuating circumstances such as injuries or saving a loose ball.

• The league had hoped to have an agreement on human growth hormone testing before next season. Stern, however, said the process has been delayed because the players' association is without an executive director after Billy Hunter was forced out earlier this year. The owners haven't given up on getting a plan in place, but it seems highly unlikely it could be agreed on before next season.

• The board agreed to reimburse the Oklahoma City Thunder part of Kevin Durant's 2010 contract extension, according to The Oklahoman. Durant received approximately $15 million in additional salary due to a change in the collective bargaining agreement ratified in December 2011, but a league source told the newspaper the reimbursement is not for the full $15 million. The full extension will still count against the Thunder's salary cap and luxury tax, The Oklahoman reported. Durant's salary has helped limit the Thunder's financial flexibility.

[Justin]

The city of Charlotte is ecstatic about bringing back the Hornets name.  The team had a party/celebration last night downtown, but unfortunately I was stuck at work.

[Doug E Fresh]

Bynum signed with the Cavs today.