Spurs’ Jefferson opts out of final year
June 30, 2010
SAN ANTONIO (AP)—Spurs swingman Richard Jefferson(notes) has opted out of the finalyear of his contract and will become a free agent.
Spurs spokesman Tom James said the nine-year veteran informed the teamThursday. Jefferson was due to make about $15 million next year afterunderachieving in his first season in San Antonio.
Jefferson averaged 12.3 points last season, his lowest since his rookieyear. He struggled to adapt to coach Gregg Popovich’s system, at one pointlosing his job in the starting lineup.
The Spurs traded for Jefferson and his hefty contract last summer in a dealwith Milwaukee.
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Warrant issued for Cavs F Hickson
June 30, 2010
CHARDON, Ohio (AP)—An Ohio judge has issued a warrant for Cleveland Cavaliersforward J.J. Hickson(notes) after he failed to show up for two hearings about aspeeding ticket.
Judge Mark Hassett issued a warrant on Monday after Hickson did not appearin Chardon Municipal Court for hearings on June 7 and June 14. A clerk saysHickson had not shown up in court by Wednesday, just minutes before the officeclosed.
Police cited Hickson on May 27 for allegedly driving 61 mph in a 25 mph zonein central Ohio.
Hickson’s lawyer, Henry Hilow, said he was unaware of the warrant onWednesday afternoon. He did not return a message seeking further comment.
Hickson faces another speeding charge in Rocky River Municipal Court fromJune 23. He’s been convicted on four other speeding charges in Rocky River.
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NBA free agency opens, team visits start
June 30, 2010
NEW YORK (AP)—Let the bidding and begging begin.
The NBA’s free agency period has opened, with LeBron James(notes) leading perhapsthe deepest group of players to ever hit the market.
Teams could begin making their pitches at 12:01 a.m. EDT Thursday, and somewere getting started quickly.
Atlanta’s Joe Johnson(notes) was expecting early visits in Los Angeles from theHawks and New York Knicks, with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting thatthe Hawks were prepared to offer the All-Star shooting guard a maximum salarycontract.
Things get interesting Thursday, when the New Jersey Nets and Knicks arescheduled for visits to Ohio to meet with James, the two-time MVP who heads theclass.
It includes other All-Stars such as Dwyane Wade(notes), Chris Bosh(notes), Dirk Nowitzki(notes),Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer(notes); veterans such as Shaquille O’Neal(notes) and RayAllen(notes); and young up-and-comers such as Rudy Gay(notes) and David Lee(notes).
“We’ve never had anything like this in my time that I can remember,” NewJersey Nets president Rod Thorn said. “There have been big-time free agentsbefore, but never this many teams that are trying to woo them. So it’sunprecedented.”
Teams were headed around the country to meet with players, though the Mavswere saved a long trip when Nowitzki informed them he would meet with themThursday in Dallas—with the message arriving while president Donnie Nelson wasat the airport preparing for a flight to Germany.
Showing they planned to be active, the Knicks confirmed on Twitter theywould also meet with Wizards swingman Mike Miller(notes) in Los Angeles.
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Cavs close to naming coach, maybe Shaw
June 30, 2010
CLEVELAND (AP)—A person familiar with Cleveland’s search says the Cavaliershave completed interviews and are close to selecting a new head coach.
The Cavs have narrowed their choice to a few candidates, and one is LosAngeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw, says the person who spoke on condition ofanonymity because the process is supposed to remain confidential.
The person says Cleveland has not yet offered Shaw the job.
The 44-year-old Shaw spent two days this week with the Cavs. A 14-year guardin the NBA with seven teams, Shaw has spent the past five seasons on PhilJackson’s staff. He figures to be a candidate to replace Jackson if the 11-timechampion retires, but the Cavaliers may offer him his first head coachingposition first.
The Cavs fired Mike Brown on May 24.
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Cavaliers in ‘serious talks’ with Scott
June 30, 2010
CLEVELAND (AP)—The Cleveland Cavaliers are in “serious talks” with ByronScott to be their coach, a person familiar with the team’s search told TheAssociated Press.
After completing interviews with several candidates including Los AngelesLakers assistant Brian Shaw, the Cavaliers have decided to “move in the Scottdirection,” said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesdaybecause the process is supposed to remain confidential.
The person said Cleveland has not yet offered Scott the job, “but is movingtoward an agreement with him.”
“Nothing is done or finalized,” the person said.
Scott, a two-time NBA coach of the year, was believed to be a leadingcandidate to replace Phil Jackson in Los Angeles if the 11-time championretired. Jackson is expected to announce his plans later this week, but Scott’srenewed interest in Cleveland—hours before LeBron James(notes) is set to hit thefree-agent market—could indicate Jackson will return to try and win a thirdstraight championship with the Lakers.
The Cavs have been without a coach since firing Mike Brown on May 24, lessthan two weeks after the team fell short of a title with a second-round loss toBoston.
Shaw appeared to be the frontrunner to take over the Cavs following atwo-day interview with owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Chris Grant. Shaw’sagent, Jerome Stanley, confirmed in an e-mail to The AP late Tuesday night thathis client was Cleveland’s favored choice, and there were reports that Shaw wasassembling a staff to help him in his first head coaching gig.
Scott’s agent, Brian McInerney, even sent out an e-mail congratulating Shawon getting Cleveland’s job.
But the Cavs never offered Shaw the position, and their attention turned toScott on Wednesday as they prepared to make a strong pitch in coming days to wooJames.
Scott could entice the two-time MVP’s return. Scott won three NBA titles asa player with the Lakers on their “Showtime” teams as Magic Johnson’sbackcourtmate. He also has experience coaching superstar players like Jason Kidd(notes)and Chris Paul(notes), both of whom are friends with James.
Scott emerged as a strong contender in Cleveland after Michigan State coachTom Izzo turned down the club’s reported $30 million offer two weeks ago. Scottand McInerney met with Gilbert, Grant and other members of the Cavs’ ownershipgroup on Father’s Day in Michigan.
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Nowitzki coming to Dallas to talk deal
June 30, 2010
DALLAS (AP)—Dirk Nowitzki(notes) is coming to Dallas to talk about a new contractwith the Mavericks.
Mavericks president Donnie Nelson said Wednesday he got word from Nowitzkiadviser Holger Geschwindner moments before Nelson was to board a plane forGermany.
Nelson said in a text message to The Associated Press that Nowitzki andGeschwindner were flying to Dallas and wanted to meet Thursday. Nelson called ita “really good sign” in the team’s bid to re-sign its all-time leading scorerand rebounder.
Nowitzki has decided to opt out of his contract and became a free agent,with negotiations beginning around the league on Thursday.
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Agent: Johnson meeting with Hawks first
June 30, 2010
ATLANTA (AP)—Joe Johnson’s(notes) agent says the four-time All-Star is meeting withthe Atlanta Hawks at the start of the free-agent negotiating period.
The Hawks are expected to do their best to keep Johnson, a free agent, byoffering their top scorer a maximum contract in Thursday’s early morning meetingin Los Angeles.
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Johnson led the Hawks with 21.3 points per game.
Johnson’s agent, Arn Tellem, told The Associated Press on Wednesday nightthat Johnson has not been involved in any meetings with other free agents.Tellem says he won’t discuss hypothetical situations, including a possible maxoffer from the Hawks. “We’ll see what they’re willing to do,” Tellem says.
Free agents can talk with any team after 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday. No deal canbe signed until July 8.
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Durant not revealing contract demands
June 30, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—Becoming the youngest player ever to win the NBA scoringtitle and leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the playoffs gave Kevin Durant(notes)the leverage to command some serious dollars this offseason.
Just hours before he can begin negotiations on a long-term contractextension, Durant had no interest in airing his demands publicly.
At the opening of his second annual children’s basketball camp in OklahomaCity on Wednesday, Durant passed on the opportunity to say he wanted to sign amaximum contract.
He has previously expressed his desire to sign a long-term extension withthe Thunder.
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Rockets extend offers to Scola, Lowry
June 30, 2010
HOUSTON (AP)—The Houston Rockets have extended qualifying offers to restrictedfree agents Kyle Lowry(notes) and Luis Scola(notes).
By making the offers, the Rockets retain the right to match any offers thatLowry or Scola might receive after free agency opens on Thursday.
General manager Daryl Morey has said that owner Leslie Alexander wants bothplayers back next season. The 6-foot-9 Scola started all 82 games for Houstonlast season, averaging 16.2 points and 8.6 rebounds. The 6-foot Lowry averaged9.1 points and 4.5 assists backing up point guard Aaron Brooks(notes).
On Tuesday, All-Star center Yao Ming(notes) said he would not opt out of hiscontract and play for the Rockets next season.
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NBA free agency set to open
June 30, 2010
NEW YORK (AP)—This summer’s biggest show in sports, kicking off at 12:01 a.m.Thursday, comes from a league that won’t play for months.
It’s called “LeBron James(notes): Free Agent.”
The two-time MVP known more aptly than ever as the King is one of the mostsought-after players to hit the market in the NBA—or any sport. Teams havespent years jockeying to get themselves in position for this moment—slashingtheir payrolls and even enlisting high-profile sympathizers ranging from a musicsuperstar to a singing governor.
James, who has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers since turning pro directlyout of high school seven years ago, is the biggest prize in perhaps the NBA’sdeepest free agency class ever, a crop of star players who could change thecourse of basketball with their decisions.
“I think the landscape could really shift,” former Phoenix general managerSteve Kerr said.
Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes), James’ classmates from the 2003 draft—andfuture teammates in Miami if they choose—are among this year’s free agents. Soare perennial All-Stars such as Dirk Nowitzki(notes), Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson(notes).
“We’ve never had anything like this in my time that I can remember,” NewJersey Nets president Rod Thorn said. “There have been big-time free agentsbefore, but never this many teams that are trying to woo them. So it’sunprecedented.”
So is the hype. Talk of James’ destination seems to change by the minute,considered a lock for Chicago in one report, then seemingly guaranteed to headto Miami in another. The rumor mill spun so out of control that an online sportsbook simply stopped taking action on James’ next team.
Bottom line: James can get perhaps $125 million over six years by staying inCleveland; $96 million over five years if he goes. (The exact figures can’t bedetermined until next season’s salary cap is set in July). But leaving could puthim in a better position to win a championship.
Thorn is headed to Ohio, where James will welcome suitors to his home stateThursday. He’ll be joined by new Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, coach AveryJohnson and hip-hop superstar Jay-Z, a part-owner and James’ longtime friend.
Then it’s back home for Prokorov and Johnson, minus Jay-Z, to make pitchesthe next day in New York to Wade and Bosh.
The Knicks plan to drop in on James, too. They can afford to pay him andanother player the NBA maximum next season, which might be what the Knicks needto finally get going again after a franchise-record nine straight losingseasons.
“We’ve had to live through some tough times in order to get where you thinkyou start rebuilding the franchise,” team president Donnie Walsh said. “Wehave that opportunity now. How well, how fast we can rebuild the team can beshortcut by getting great players.”
They’ll have plenty of competition. The Heat, Nets, Chicago Bulls and LosAngeles Clippers also can afford to offer a player about $16.6 million nextseason, which is the maximum someone with James’ amount of NBA experience canmake. Chicago and New Jersey made trades in recent days to push them closer tojoining the Knicks with enough to offer two max deals, and the Heat can keepWade, give an additional max contract and have enough left over for anotherquality player.
The teams are getting plenty of help. Ohio’s governor made his plea forJames in a song. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg lobbied James on Wednesday bysaying celebrities can live without being bothered in the city—where James wasrecently seen house hunting. At the same time, Miami was trying to persuade itssuperstar to stick around with a “Dwyane Wade Day.”
Top players rarely leave via free agency because NBA rules allow their teamsto offer them more money in the long run. The difference comes not in the firstyear of a new contract, but in the raises.
A player signing with his own team is eligible for annual increases of 10.5percent, while a new team can offer only 8 percent bumps. The home team can alsooffer six-year deals, whereas players joining new teams can get only five-yearcontracts.
The Knicks traded away Jamal Crawford(notes) and Zach Randolph(notes)—the NBA’s topsixth man and a first-time All-Star, respectively—to get their $34 million incap room. New Jersey, which shipped out Jason Kidd(notes), Richard Jefferson(notes) and VinceCarter(notes) in recent years, went just 12-70 last season but hope for a quickturnaround. Miami essentially left Wade to play by himself this season inexchange for the chance to get him some superstar help next year.
“It is an ‘all-in’ strategy, in that even when it works, you’re going tohave to operate with a very low payroll,” Houston Rockets general manager DarylMorey said. “If it doesn’t work, it can be catastrophic in terms of if youstrike out, it’s going to be very difficult to be competitive.”
The clock started ticking four summers ago, when James, Wade and Bosh passedon maximum-length extensions on their rookie contracts in favor of shorter dealsthat allowed them to opt for free agency this summer.
Momentum kept building as fears grew that owners will seek radical changesin the length and value of contracts next summer when the league’s collectivebargaining agreement expires. That made it wise for a player like Nowitzki, evenif he has no intention of leaving Dallas, to exercise his early terminationoption now and sign a new deal under the current rules.
Toronto expects to lose Bosh. If the All-Star forward joins James or Wade,or both, that team figures to become an immediate championship contender. Bostonwon the title the year after assembling its Big Three—which could now bebroken up with Ray Allen(notes) on the market—and the Lakers have reached the finalsevery year since acquiring Pau Gasol(notes) to complement Kobe Bryant(notes).
Numerous teams are now dreaming of similar pairings.
“You look at the teams that have an awful lot of cap space, there could bea lot of power shifting in this league,” Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis said.
Deals can be agreed to but can’t be signed until July 8. The process oftengoes quickly, but with so many potential good options, James might want to takehis time.
With free agency turning into must-see television, NBA TV will air a livespecial starting at midnight, and the Knicks’ MSG network will debut a show atthe same time.
After years of jockeying by teams, anticipation by the players andspeculation by the media, it’s time to get started.
“It’s what we live for,” Dallas Mavericks president Donnie Nelson said.“It’s fun.”
AP Sports Writers Jaime Aron in Dallas, Chris Duncan in Houston and JonKrawczynski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
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