NBA Thread

[Gravedigger]

I think LeBron would want CP3 and Griffin there if he were to go to LA. If they could deal Jordan plus some role players (I'd keep Reddick for the shooting ability) then that would be an attractive option.

As for the Lakers rumors, not happening. Why would he want to team with a 35 year old Kobe who's got bad knees and is going to make 24 million? If he's not happy with Wade's limited availability he'll go nuts with Kobe.

[¿PapaPancho?]

I heard they're looking to move Jordan if that were to happen.

Actually I think Lebron is wanting to play with Chris Paul, not Griffin.

Hed want to play with both.

NBA becoming more like the FBL which each passing day...just needs Chris Mullin to invent a board game and have sex with Reggie Miller's sister...

Cheryl Miller is too strong for Chris Mullin. I always imagined Mike Flips as Steve Kerr. He is a failed GM after all

[GM Franchise]

I agree. Lebron ain't playing for the Lakers.

NBA becoming more like the FBL which each passing day...just needs Chris Mullin to invent a board game and have sex with Reggie Miller's sister...

LOL I agree with this too.

Hed want to play with both.

True but he's a long time friend of Chris Paul so that's why I mentionned it. It was in an article I read about the possibility of him going to the Clippers.

[GM Franchise]

Report: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh meet in Miami

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24597560/report-lebron-james-dwyane-wade-chris-bosh-meet-in-miami

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh gathered in Miami on Wednesday, as reported by the Miami Herald's Lesley Abravanel and confirmed by Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick.

The Miami Heat trio can all opt out of their current contracts and become free agents on July 1. James, as you're no doubt aware, has already done so. The meeting was expected at some point before free agency begins.

Bosh has been vocal about wanting to come back to Miami, and there's no real downside to him opting out, as there will be plenty of suitors willing to offer him a maximum contract. Wade, who at 32 years old is owed almost $42 million over the next two seasons, has some incentive to opt in. All three of them opting out would give the Heat the most flexibility to upgrade their roster.

[GM Franchise]

The plot thickens...



Report: Heat, Cavs, Rockets, Knicks, Nets top LeBron's list, not Clippers

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24597623/report-heat-cavs-rockets-knicks-nets-top-lebrons-list-not-clippers

ESPN reports that the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Brooklyn Nets top LeBron James' list of potential free agent destinations, in that order, and that the Clippers, surprisingly, are not at the top of that list.

As mentioned above, I'm told the Clippers are not among James' most preferred destinations. While James and Clippers point guard Chris Paul are great friends, there are concerns about the compatibility of their games. Paul is not as capable of excelling off the ball as Wade was when he adjusted to playing with James.

Beyond that, there is still the very real problem of Donald Sterling's shadow hovering over the Clippers. I was not told that this would be an issue, but as outspoken as James was about wanting Sterling out of the league, it seems implausible that he would willingly go play for the Clippers until Sterling's ouster is complete. That is not likely to happen before July 8.

via NBA - Possible landing spots for LeBron James - ESPN.

That contradicts an earlier report that James did in fact find the Clippers intriguing. The Clippers reportedly have interest too, but aren't willing to give up Blake Griffin for the best player in the world.

It's also surprising since LA is the perfect market for him. He has big entertainment plans, and has long been interested in the industry. He even had his own cartoon show. The Clippers would give him his best friend in Chris Paul, a coach he adores in Doc Rivers, and the lifestyle he wants. So them being off the list, despite multiple indications over the past few months that they are under consideration, is weird.

Meanwhile, the Knicks and Nets, even after the Knicks' trade of Tyson Chandler and Jose Calderon, would have to come pretty close to melting the constraints of mathematics to get room for Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, and that's the only way James goes for that. The Nets would have to surrender all of their talent to make room for James, and have very little in the way of assets to rebuild in the future.

The Cavs and Heat may be what it comes down to, but the Rockets possibility hangs, specifically with this idea from the report. The Rockets trade Asik and Lin to create room to sign one of Anthony and James, then do a sign-and-trade of James Harden for the other one. It's a fascinating possibility that could see Harden moved to New York or Miami. Houston is reportedly on the list of teams Carmelo Anthony intends to meet with.

The plot thickens, as The Decision 2.0 rolls on, with Miami still the heavy favorite to retain LeBron James.

[GM Franchise]

Source: No favorite for Carmelo

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11135474/carmelo-anthony-plans-visit-houston-rockets-dallas-mavericks-chicago-bulls

Carmelo Anthony has decided to visit the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls once teams are allowed to meet with free agents on July 1, according to league sources.

The meetings have not been set up because the teams are not yet allowed to contact free agents. But Anthony has decided he will give those three teams a chance to recruit him when they are able to.  Anthony's camp informed the Knicks of his decision to visit the three teams.

While there has been speculation that Chicago is at the top of Anthony's list of potential destinations, one source said there is no true favorite in his mind.

The New York Knicks, who can offer Anthony $33 million more than any other team, are also still very much alive in bringing back the All-Star forward.

Though the Los Angeles Lakers are not on Anthony's current list, Kobe Bryant plans to recruit him to the team. Bryant, who is close with Anthony, spoke to him by telephone when they were in separate parts of Europe earlier this week.

Bryant told ESPN.com in a text message that he plans to meet with Anthony, as well.

For all the talk about Anthony joining LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami next season, sources said there has been no talk about going to the Heat from Anthony.

While there are still chances for other opportunities to develop, the Rockets, Mavericks and Bulls appear to be the Knicks' biggest challengers thus far.

"Those three teams plus the Knicks seem to be the ones he's going to consider," one source said.

[Mike Powers]

I have Lebron fatigue already.

[¿PapaPancho?]

Dont be surprissd if the Clips make a move to dump Dudley or Riddick for Afflalo ... love me some Aaron Afflalo

[GM Franchise]

That would be a good move for them. Affalo was really good last year.

[GM Franchise]

Mavericks, Knicks pull off big trade

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11135060/dallas-mavericks-talks-acquire-tyson-chandler-raymond-felton-new-york-knicks

The Mavericks and the New York Knicks have consummated a six-player trade that sends center Tyson Chandler back to Dallas.

The Mavericks, who immediately made reacquiring Chandler one of their priorities after their first-round playoff exit against San Antonio, completed a trade with the Knicks that was clinched by agreeing to take back the contract of New York's out-of-favor guard Raymond Felton as well.

The trade cost Dallas two starters -- point guard Jose Calderon and center Samuel Dalembert -- along with prized young point guard Shane Larkin, reserve guard Wayne Ellington and the 34th and 51st picks in Thursday's draft.

Chandler is the player Dallas has missed most since it decided to let go several key contributors in free agency after the team's championship run in 2011.

Chandler, 31, wound up landing a four-year, $60 million deal in free agency with the Knicks that year, a deal that has one season remaining.

The departures of Chandler and Felton are believed to be just the start of a roster overhaul by new Knicks president Phil Jackson, with Jackson pursing as much salary-cap flexibility as he can in the hopes of convincing star free-agent-to-be Carmelo Anthony to stay.

"The journey to build this team for the upcoming season and beyond continues," Jackson said in the announcement. "We have added players with this move that will fit right in to our system while maintaining future flexibility.

"We would like to thank Raymond and Tyson for their time and hard work with the organization over the past few years."

If the Knicks keep all players acquired in the deal they will have saved $3 million in cap space for this summer but forfeited $5.2 million in cap space in the summer of 2015, when they are expected to chase big-name free agents. The Knicks are currently over the salary cap and will only be able to use trade exceptions to lure free agents this summer.

The Mavericks will have approximately $26.5 million in salary cap space before re-signing Dirk Nowitzki to a hometown discount deal. A source told ESPNDallas.com that the Mavs' front office is optimistic that the addition of Chandler significantly increases the team's odds of successfully recruiting LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, two superstars available in free agency.

"It makes us real players for LeBron and Carmelo," the source said, adding that pairing one of the perennial All-Star small forwards with Nowitzki and Chandler could give Dallas the NBA's premier frontcourt.

With Chandler entering the final season of his contract, the Mavs then also would be positioned to make a run next summer at another premier free agent, such as Kevin Love, Marc Gasol or Dallas native LaMarcus Aldridge.

Chandler was the emotional catalyst for the Nowitzki-led Mavericks when they beat the Miami Heat in six games to win the franchise's first title in 2011.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made the much-debated decision not to offer him a long-term contract because of concerns over how the new labor deal would keep Dallas from making other moves. Chandler, who had a history of injuries, turned down a one-year deal worth about $20 million for the security of the four-year contract with the Knicks.

The 31-year-old Chandler is going into the final season of that deal at $14.5 million, and Felton has one year at $3.8 million with a player option for another season in the same range.

Calderon just finished the first season of a four-year, $28 million contract with the Mavericks, who also signed Monta Ellis to a multiyear deal last summer. It was the first time Dallas had committed to any player beyond one year since Nowitzki signed his most recent extension in 2010.

Nowitzki will join Anthony in free agency, but he is expected to re-sign with the Mavericks.

The Knicks are getting one of the best 3-pointer shooters and a steady hand at the point in Calderon, but he sometimes sat late in close games because he was a defensive liability. He averaged 11.4 points and shot 45 percent from 3-point range last season.

Felton is coming off a trouble-plagued season that included his arrest in February in a felony gun possession case. He was expected to plead guilty in exchange for community service and a $5,000 fine.

Felton, who turns 30 on Thursday, averaged a career-low 9.7 points and saw a significant drop in his shooting percentage last season.

Dalembert had an up-and-down season in the first year of a two-year deal with Dallas, while Larkin and Ellington were used sparingly.

Larkin, the son of Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin and a first-round pick a year ago, saw his playing time drop dramatically when Devin Harris returned from toe surgery at midseason.

Harris is a free agent and wants to return to Dallas, but he would like the three-year contract he and the Mavericks agreed to last year before the toe injury scuttled the deal. He settled for a one-year contract.

[GM Franchise]

The Houston Rockets have traded Omer Asik to the New Orleans Pelicans for a future first round pick.

Edit: Here's the update on this...



Report: Rockets finalizing deal to send Omer Asik to New Orleans for future pick

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/25/report-rockets-finalizing-deal-to-send-omer-asik-to-new-orleans-for-future-pick/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Last season I thought New Orleans was going to impress but injuries stalled out everything but Anthony Davis' development. Now, watch New Orleans to make a playoff push next year.

The Pelicans just got a roster upgrade and the Rockets are clearing cap space to go big game hunting as the result of a deal being finalized that sends center Omer Asik to New Orleans, something first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

The Pelicans are sending back a future first round pick to Houston.


I like this deal for the Rockets in the sense this is what they have to do to chase Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James as free agents this summer, to form their own "big three" with James Harden and Dwight Howard. That requiresa lot of cap space — Asik is scheduled to make $8.4 million on the cap next season (his actual payout is closer to $15 million due to a poison pill in his offer sheet). The Rockets wipe that off the books, now also must find a taker for Jeremy Lin where they also take no money back.

I really like this for New Orleans.

The Pelicans want to play Anthony Davis at the four, he has the midrange game on offense and can be more of a come from the weak side shot blocker on defense (think Serge Ibaka when Kendrick Perkins plays). This pairing gives the Pelicans a potentially impressive defensive front line to pair with the backcourt rotation of Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans.

[Gravedigger]

I have Lebron fatigue already.

Prepare to be pretty tired...

[GM Franchise]

The Charlotte Hornets unveiled their new court design today.



Hornets unveil new court design

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11139217/charlotte-hornets-unveil-new-basketball-court-design

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Hornets unveiled a new basketball court design Thursday that features a fierce-looking hornet logo at center court.

It's the final step in the team's brand identity transformation from the Bobcats to the Hornets.

The hard maple court also includes a beehive cell pattern stained into the wood, a teal border and purple free throw lanes. The baselines have "Charlotte" and "Hornets" written in the team's font. There's a pair of Buzz City logos inside the 3-point line on both ends of the court.

"When we look at our primary logo in the center, it depicts how we want to play as a team with the fierceness, the tenacity and a sense of protect this place," Hornets president and CEO Fred Whitfield said.

Hornets chief marketing officer Pete Guelli said the team wanted to keep the floor simple and classy, while emphasizing the brand identity of the team. He believes the cell pattern on the floor along with the team's logo -- one that was released earlier this year -- emphasized that focus.

"The floor is normally the first thing fans will see when they enter the arena," Guelli said.

The new wood playing surface is constructed from northern hard maple and is made up of more than 200 4-foot by 8-foot sectional panels, each of which weigh approximately 175 pounds, according to the team's press release.

It features a new interlocking system designed to speed up arena changeovers.

The floor also is designed with the health of players in mind, absorbing about 60 percent of a player's impact. That is designed to help alleviate wear and tear on the body during an 82-game season.

The court was designed with the input of the Hornets senior executives, the Jordan Brand division of Nike and the NBA's global marketing group.

[GM Franchise]

Arron Afflalo returning to Nuggets

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11139109/denver-nuggets-acquire-arron-afflalo-orlando-magic-according-sources

The Denver Nuggets have acquired guard Arron Afflalo from the Orlando Magic for guard Evan Fournier and the 56th pick in Thursday night's NBA draft, sources told ESPN.com.

It is a return to Denver for Afflalo, who played with the Nuggets from 2009 to 2012 before being traded to the Magic as part of the Dwight Howard trade. He is coming off a career season in which he averaged 18.2 points.

The Magic seemed eager to move their top returning scorer because he has the option to become a free agent after next season, in which he will earn $7.5 million. He was mentioned often in numerous trade talks in recent days.

The Nuggets acquired Afflalo using a trade exception.

In return, the Magic get the developing Fournier, a native of France who is just 21 years old heading into his third season. The former first-round pick averaged 8.3 points and 2.7 rebounds last season for the Nuggets.

The Magic own the No. 4 and No. 12 picks in the first round of Thursday night's draft. The Nuggets have the No. 11 pick.

[Jon]

Where is the picture?