SH Blog: Players make decisions with official day to sign approaching

With the official day for players to sign contracts finally coming on Wednesday, plenty of decisions were made throughout the day. See all the player movements, trades and other NBA news (some are rather crazy) around the league on Tuesday:

Tim Duncan will stay with the San Antonio Spurs, from Johnny Ludden: “Tim Duncan will sign a three-year contract with the Spurs this week, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Duncan’s representatives and the Spurs are finalizing a few items in the contract, but the structure has been agreed upon. The contract has a player option for the third season and is fully guaranteed. The deal also has a no-trade clause, sources said, and should take Duncan to the end of his playing days.”

The New York Knicks have re-signed guard J.R. Smith, from Ian Begley: “Free agent J.R. Smith has agreed to return to the New York Knicks. The veteran shooting guard will sign a two-year contract worth $2.8 million per season, two league sources told ESPNNewYork.com. The deal is guaranteed for the first season and contains a player option for the second season. “I have decided to re-sign with the Knicks. I just felt that, despite my other options, New York is the best situation for me,” Smith said in a statement released to ESPNNewYork.com. “Coach (Mike) Woodson showed a lot of faith and trust in me last season, as did (Knicks owner) Mr. (James) Dolan and the organization.”

The Heat will reunite Ray Allen with Rashard Lewis, from Brian Windhorst: “Forward Rashard Lewis has agreed to a two-year, $2.8 million deal, sources told ESPN.com. Lewis had other suitors and might’ve been able to get a higher offer elsewhere but was sold on a role with the defending champions after meeting with team president Pat Riley on Sunday in Miami. He became the Heat’s top priority when free agent center Marcus Camby agreed to a sign-and-trade to go to the New York Knicks.”

Louis Williams has agreed to sign with the Atlanta Hawks, according to Windhorst: “Williams, an Atlanta area native, averaged a career-high 14.9 points and 3.5 assists with the Philadelphia 76ers last season when he finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. “…happy to be apart of a team that’s similar to the Sixers…Young, athletic, and hardworking,” Williams wrote on his Twitter feed Tuesday evening. Williams, who can play both guard positions, opted out of the final year of his contract worth $5.3 million… The Hawks are believed to be signing him with their $5 million mid-level exception.”

Dorell Wright has been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, according to CSN Philly: “Sixers Insider Dei Lynam reports that, according to a league source, the Sixers have acquired 6-foot-9 swingman Dorell Wright from Golden State. It was initially thought the Sixers would be sending a future draft pick, but the Associated Press is reporting that it is the rights to a player currently playing in Europe.”

Deron Williams discussed how his desire to play with Dwight Howard dates back to 2008, from Marc J. Spears: “Deron Williams said he and Dwight Howard first discussed the possibility of teaming together four years ago in China. With the Orlando Magic talking about a proposed trade to send Howard to Williams and the Brooklyn Nets, that dream could be closer to becoming reality. “It was just talk about that point four years ago,” Williams said. “[Brooklyn] definitely intrigues [Howard]. Brooklyn is going to be huge. That factored into my decision [to re-sign with the Nets]. This is a place that hasn’t had a [sports] franchise since the ’50s. This is a city that wants basketball there, and then the arena is going to be great.”

Here is all the updated information on Dwight Howard for today, from ESPN: “The Orlando Magic have reopened negotiations with teams other than the Brooklyn Nets for Dwight Howard, a league source told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher. The Nets have been trying to acquire the Magic’s star center but need other teams to help facilitate the blockbuster trade. Sources told ESPN.com on Monday the Nets and Magic were cautiously optimistic the Cleveland Cavaliers andLos Angeles Clippers would help them facilitate a four-way trade to send Howard to Brooklyn. However, Yahoo! Sports reported Tuesday the Cavaliers dropped out as a potential team in the trade talks. The website also reported that if the Nets were to acquire Howard, it likely would have to be in a trade between Brooklyn and the Magic, with no other teams involved. One source told ESPNNewYork.com’s Ian O’Connor on Tuesday the Nets will be ready to move on from their pursuit of Howard if they can’t agree on trade with the Magic by Wednesday.”

Jarrod N. Rudolph said the following about the situation between the Magic and Nets: “Magic and Nets trying to simplify the deal. Still hopeful that deal can be completed. Still focused on dealing Howard to Brooklyn, for now.”

The absolute latest on Howard is a possible deal between the Magic, Rockets and Lakers, from Eric Pincus: “HOOPSWORLD has learned that there have been preliminary discussions between the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets that would involve sending Andrew Bynum to the Rockets, Howard to the Lakers and a number of first-round picks, prospects and significant cap relief to the Magic. The Magic are not necessarily in love with the idea of giving either Bynum or Brook Lopez a sizable, long-term commitment as they go through a major roster overhaul. Draft picks and prospects, a la the Denver Nuggets’ return on Carmelo Anthony, is said to be more appealing to Orlando. The Rockets have no assurance from Howard that he’d re-sign there and while they might be willing to take that risk, Bynum has privately expressed a willingness to be in Houston long-term.”

Blake Griffin has agreed to a monster deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, from Ramona Shelburne: “Griffin could earn as much as $95 million over the course of the five-year extension if he is voted an All-Star starter again or named to a second All-NBA team next season under the so-called “Derrick Rose Rule” in the new collective bargaining agreement. The rule allows a player finishing his rookie contract to make 30 percent of a team’s salary cap — up from 25 percent — if he’s twice been voted an All-Star starter, twice been voted All-NBA or won an MVP award.”

Courtney Lee explains why he and the Celtics have mutual interest in each other, from Gary Washburn: “Me and Doc, we’ve always had a relationship since I’ve been in the NBA,” he said. “I’m a friend of both of his kids, Austin and Jeremiah. We work out together, always see each other. Me and Doc always speak. There’s interest there, but there was no verbal agreement or anything, just hearing each other out. He expressed his interest. I expressed my interest. “It’s not basketball-wise that needs to be discussed, it’s the front office and my agent that needs to communicate and go from there.”

Boris Diaw has agreed to terms with the San Antonio Spurs, from Adrian Wojnarowski: “The San Antonio Spurs have reached agreement on a two-year, $9.2 million contract with forward Boris Diaw, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The deal includes a player option in the 2013-14 season. Diaw, 30, joined the Spurs midway through last season after he reached a contract buyout with the Charlotte Bobcats. He eventually moved into the starting lineup for the Spurs’ playoff run to the Western Conference finals.”

Here is how things went down as Ryan Anderson decided to sign with the Hornets, from John Reid: “As New Orleans Hornets General Manager Dell Demps pushed to work out the specifics of a contract offer last week, Coach Monty Williams talked extensively with Orlando Magic restricted free-agent power forward Ryan Anderson to convince him to join New Orleans. Impressed with Williams’ plans, Anderson initially accepted the Hornets’ four-year, $36 million offer sheet before the Magic stepped in to facilitate a sign-and-trade agreement with New Orleans on Sunday. As part of the deal, the Hornets agreed to trade forward Gustavo Ayon to Orlando. The trade will be finalized Wednesday, when the league’s trade moratorium on player transactions ends.”

Ben Wallace wants to return for another season, from Vincent Goodwill: “A source close to the situation tells the Detroit News that “it’s a pretty good chance” Ben Wallace will return to the Pistons for another season. Wallace, who will turn 38 in September, has been wanted back by the organization since the drafting of Andre Drummond. “Me and Ben talk every other day,” Pistons President Joe Dumars said recently, while intimating he would give Wallace until the opening of training camp to make a decision. Apparently he didn’t wait that long.”

DeMarcus Cousins wants Jerry Colangelo to explain what makes Cousins immature, from Ailene Voisin: “I actually just had a conversation with (Colangelo),” Cousins revealed after Monday’s scrimmage between the Select Team and members of the recently named U.S. Olympic squad. “I asked him, ‘How was I being immature?’ He never really gave me an answer. I mean, I really wanted to know. I took offense to it. … It definitely bothered me.”

Greg Monroe was also generally unhappy with Team USA’s decision making, from Vincent Goodwill: “No disrespect to those guys, looking at the Select Team roster, I felt like I should’ve been on there,” Monroe said. “That’s just the confidence I have in myself.” Of the bigs invited to Las Vegas, only the Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins had a season comparable to Monroe (15.4 points, 9.7 rebounds). DaJuan Blair (Spurs), Derrick Favors (Jazz) and Taj Gibson (Bulls) haven’t shown to be in Monroe’s class, yet got invitations. With the international game being a more wide-open style of play, a great passing big man like Monroe could be of some use, and it’s puzzling to think he wasn’t given serious consideration this time around.”

Grant Hill is considering more than just the Lakers, from David Aldridge: “Free agent forward Grant Hill is still considering at least two other teams–the two teams in last month’s Finals, Miami and Oklahoma City–as well as the Lakers as he decides where he’s going to play next season, according to a source with knowledge of the 39-year-old forward’s thinking. Reports Tuesday indicated that Hill has decided either to play for the Lakers or retire. But the source strongly indicated that Hill has not limited himself to Los Angeles as he makes up his mind.”

Was James Harden duped into believing that he got traded to the Hornets by a fake twitter account? Robert Littal dives in: “Here is the $100 million question and depending on the answer could make James Harden the dumbest player on the planet. This is a planet that includes Dwight Howard, so to be #1 is very difficult. Is it possible that Harden saw this Tweet from a fake Yahoo Sports account and really thought he was traded?”

Nicolas Batum explains how he wants to be a special player, from Jorge Sierra: “Are you going to be upset if you have to go back to Portland? NB: No. What kind of player do you see yourself becoming in the NBA from an individual standpoint? NB: I just want to be a leader. A very good player and that’s why I’m working every day since I was born. I don’t want to just. be in the NBA. I want to have success as a player, but also with my team. I want to be a special player. All-Star? NB: Why not? Soon? NB: I hope sooner than later. Do you have a feeling about where you’re going to play next season? NB: I don’t know. We’ll see in a couple of days.

The Wizards have had enough of Andray Blatche, from Marc Stein: ” Amnesty scuttle: Hearing Wiz giving “renewed consideration” to releasing Andray Blatche through amnesty clause during July 11-17 window. Wiz obviously don’t want to eat $23+ mil still owed Blatche. But they also want to move on w/out him & know trade would be near-miraculous. In other words Wiz have ’til July 17 to keep scouring for Blatche trade. Wiz choice then, I’m told, is amnesty or pay Blatche to stay home”

One fan is so upset with Ray Allen that he burned Allen’s jersey, will make a “Judas Shuttlesworth” shirt, and said the following about Allen: “I wasn’t going to make the Judas shirts, but now I think I have to because I want one. Fuck this guy. Fuck him forever. Yeah that’s right. I want to get this fuck where he breathes! I want him DEAD! I want his family DEAD! I want his house burned to the GROUND! I wanna go there in the middle of the night and I wanna PISS ON HIS ASHES!”