Hello and welcome to the Evening News.
As free agency begins, we will keep you updated every evening.
What’s happening today?
Chris Paul will sign extension with Clippers
After months of rumors about where Chris Paul would land on the open market, the superstar point guard ended all free agency speculation early. Paul took to twitter to announce his return to Los Angeles:
I’M IN!!! #CLIPPERNATION
— Chris Paul (@CP3) July 1, 2013
Beyond the Clippers’ talented roster and the recent hiring of Doc Rivers, Los Angeles’s ability to offer roughly $30 million more in free agency over other teams certainly played a role in Paul’s decision to return. Moreover, Paul’s wife, Jada Crawley, has reportedly fallen in love with the city of Los Angeles and had been urging Paul to stay with the Clippers for several months.
Paul’s verbal agreement with the Clippers is for five years and $107.3 million dollars. Free agents cannot officially sign with teams until July 10.
Pelicans eye Tyreke Evans
According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the New Orleans Pelicans have offered Tyreke Evans a lucrative four year contract worth approximately $40 million.
While the Pelicans seem to already have secured a strong backcourt with Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon, the team has money to spend and is reportedly interested in the idea of bringing Evans off the bench in a Manu Ginobili-esque role.
Evans’ camp previously stated that the former Rookie of the Year would not agree to any contract with a team that intended to make him a small forward.
While Evans undoubtedly wants to start for his next team, it’s possible that an eight-figure annual salary offer could change his mind.
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier Monday that the Pelicans had also reached out to Andre Iguodala. Iguodala and Holiday were successful teammates in Philadelphia for three seasons.
Clippers target Mayo and Redick
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojanarowski also reported that Doc Rivers reached out to O.J. Mayo about the possibility of Mayo signing with the Clippers.
Once, Doc Rivers was close to coaching O.J. Mayo in Boston. Late last night, he talked to Mayo about possibility of playing for Clippers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2013
Mayo played his college ball at USC and has always been fond of the city of Los Angeles. Mayo would slide in nicely next to Paul at shooting guard because he shoots the ball well and runs the floor effectively.
Mayo shot over 40% from deep last season and averaged a career high 4.4 assists per game with the Mavericks.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports that the Clippers have also been engaged in trade discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks about a possible deal that would send J.J. Redick to Los Angeles in exhange for Eric Bledsoe.
With Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis testing the waters of free agency, the Bucks have several different directions they can go with at point guard.
While the team still has interest in re-signing Redick, trading for Bledsoe would be a nice summer coup and would all but assuredly end Jennings’ tenure in Milwaukee.