SH Blog: Bobcats have plenty of options with No. 2 pick, Rockets hope to acquire No. 5 pick

The 2012 NBA Draft is upon us and needless to say, rumors have dominated much of the afternoon. The Bobcats have been all over the news, as you will see below, along with the Rockets, Cavaliers, Celtics and more. You’ll also find news about Ray Allen, Steve Nash, DeJuan Blair, Lamar Odom and so much more in today’s news:

David Aldridge reported that the Bobcats have plenty of offers should they choose to trade their pick: “Source: Bobcats have five legit offers they’re currently exploring to trade the second pick overall in tonight’s NBA Draft.”

Chris Broussard updated the Bobcats state of mind: “sources: Charlotte talking with Cavs and Rockets about trading #2 pick. not sure if teams making separate offers or if it’s a 3-way trade.”

Jonathan Givony reported the following about Derrick Williams: “Sources say Minnesota offered Derrick Williams to Charlotte in exchange for the #2 pick. Bobcats quickly rejected. Derrick Williams has been shopped to different NBA teams dating back to the trade deadline. Asking price way too high according to teams.”

Woj explains why the Cavaliers have significant interest in Dion Waiters: The Cleveland Cavaliers’ intrigue with selecting Syracuse guard Dion Waiters with the fourth overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft has gathered significant momentum, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Cavaliers haven’t been able to get Waiters to visit Cleveland for a workout and meeting with officials, but it hasn’t extinguished management’s ever-evolving fascination with choosing Waiters at No. 4 – especially if the Cavaliers are unable to secure Florida guard Bradley Beal.”

The Rockets have continued their efforts to move up to No 5. in the draft and progress has been made, from Marc Stein and Chad Ford: “Trade talks between the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets have intensified in the hours leading up to Thursday night’s NBA draft and have put the Rockets in position to acquire the Kings’ No. 5 pick if Sacramento elects to trade it, according to sources close to the process. One source said this is being “heavily discussed.” Sources told ESPN.com the Kings plan to wait as long as possible before committing to the trade to see who falls to them at No. 5. It’s believed that Sacramento will walk away from the trade if Kansas’ Thomas Robinson is still available after four picks are made.”

Hoopshype has a collection of twitter thoughts from the soon-to-be NBA draft picks.

Neil Olshey believes in talent, and will draft according to talent level rather than worry about the Blazers’ immediate needs, from Jason Quick: “One of the backbones to what Olshey calls his “vision of sustainability” is drafting the best player available, and not necessarily drafting based on need. The Blazers are in desperate need of help at point guard and center, but Olshey said his job today is to come away with the best assets because, down the road, assets are what help make trades that can help push teams over the top.”

The Celtics may be looking to move up in the draft for one particular reason, according to Sam Amick: “Sources say Boston’s push to move into the lottery is partly driven by a desire to land Duke’s Austin Rivers, son of Cs coach Doc Rivers. Celtics have the No. 21 and No. 22 picks.”

Unfortunately for the Celtics, Woj reported the following about Austin Rivers: “The top of New Orleans’ wish list at No. 10 leads with Duke guard Austin Rivers, league sources tell Y!”

The Warriors will likely keep the seventh pick in the draft, according to Alex Kennedy: “It sounds like the Golden State Warriors will hold onto the seventh overall pick. While the team did their due diligence and shopped the selection in recent days, sources say the team is now leaning toward keeping the pick. The Houston Rockets tried to acquire the seventh pick, but sources say the talks broke down because Golden State wasn’t interested in Houston’s assets.”

Steve Nash will listen to plenty of offers when he officially becomes a free agent on Sunday. One team he may hear from are the Nets, reports Marc J. Spears: “The Nets have salary-cap space to sign Nash and keep Deron Williams. The Nets would welcome the two point guards playing together, a league source said. Nash and Nets coach Avery Johnson are former teammates. Nash also is intrigued by the Nets’ new arena and their move to Brooklyn. “I have friends in Brooklyn,” Nash said. “I’m over there a lot. Brooklyn’s great. Brooklyn’s beautiful. I think a lot of guys are going to find out about Brooklyn.”

The Suns are serious contenders to sign Ray Allen, reports Adrian Wojnarowski: “Allen, 37, is willing to explore offers beyond Boston. The Suns – regardless of whether they re-sign free-agent point guard Steve Nash – interest Allen, sources said. The Suns have significant salary-cap space, and could pay Allen more than the Miami Heat or New York Knicks. Suns president Lon Babby had been Allen’s agent for a significant part of his career until Babby started running Phoenix’s basketball operations two years ago.”

Brandon Roy is on the radar of many teams, excluding the Lakers, reports Dave McMenamin: “According to a source familiar with the team’s thinking, the Lakers are not interested in Roy, the former Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard who retired last December because of knee troubles. Roy, who turns 28 next month, has been working out in L.A. this summer in hopes of returning to the league. While certainly respecting the player who Roy once was, the Lakers are skeptical that Roy’s body would be able to make it though the grind of a full 82-game season, according to the source.”

Eric Bledsoe has drawn great interest from many teams, but the Clippers have no interest in giving him up, says Ramona Shelburne: “Third-year point guard Eric Bledsoe has drawn widespread interest from around the league, but according to sources with knowledge of the Clippers thinking, someone would have to knock the Clippers socks off to get them to part with Bledsoe.”

Lamar Odom could end up a Clipper if Mo Williams complies, from Stein and Ford: “The Utah Jazz have emerged as the potential third team in the Los Angeles Clippers’ ongoing trade discussions to acquire Lamar Odom from the Dallas Mavericks, according to sources close to the process. Sources told ESPN.com that the Jazz are willing to take on Clippers guard Mo Williams in a three-team trade scenario that would send Odom to the Clippers and enable the Mavericks to shed Odom’s salary without taking back any salary.”

*Update: There has been an agreement among all teams related to the Odom deal: “Unless Los Angeles Clippers guard Mo Williams enjoys throwing away money, the Mavericks will soon be rid of Lamar Odom and any financial obligation to him for the coming season. The Mavericks have agreed to send the troubled Odom to the Clippers, who in turn will ship Williams to the Utah Jazz, who will send a trade exception from the Mehmet Okur deal last season to the Mavericks, an NBA source said. All three teams have agreed to the deal. All that has to happen to make it official is for Williams to exercise the player option on his contract for next season, which would pay him $8.5 million.”

Howard Beck reports that the NBA and its player union are moving towards a settlement: “The most likely outcome is that Lin and three other players — including the Knicks’ Steve Novak — will retain some form of Bird rights, as affirmed last week by an arbitrator, according to one of the people briefed on the talks. But the talks were continuing Thursday, and the details of a settlement remained in flux.”

Cavaliers guard Anthony Parker has decided to call it quits, according to Mary Schmitt Boyer: “As expected, veteran Cavaliers shooting guard Anthony Parker, 37, has decided to retire after a nine-year career in the NBA, the last three with Cleveland. Parker averaged 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 51 games last season.”

In a very surprising story, Mark Jackson was the target of an extortion plot by a former mistress: “Former NBA star–and current Golden State Warriors head coach–Mark Jackson was the target of a recent extortion plot allegedly hatched by an ex-stripper with whom he carried on an extramarital affair and shared photos of his genitalia, The Smoking Gun has learned. The shakedown scheme, which was foiled by the FBI with Jackson’s cooperation, resulted this week in the arrest of Alexis Adams, the former dancer, and her alleged coconspirator, ex-convict Marcus Shaw.”

Mark Jackson confirmed the story and stated the following: “My family and I were the victims of an extortion scheme. The scheme began on April 3, 2012, when the Warriors were in Memphis to play the Grizzlies. A man approached me at the team hotel with personal information which he threatened to sell to a tabloid. At the time, he demanded a substantial sum of money. Regrettably, I paid him. In retrospect, I understand that this was a terrible lapse in judgment and a course of action I would not recommend to anyone.”

Woj reported the following about DeJuan Blair: “Spurs are shopping forward DeJuan Blair, league sources tell Y! Spurs have Euro picks they could bring over next season, need roster space.”

More on Blair from Jonathan Givony: “To follow up on @WojYahooNBA ‘s report that the Spurs are shopping DeJuan Blair, one team that really likes him I’m told is Golden State.”

The Hornets are doing their part to have a chance to keep Eric Gordon, from Royce Young: “Eric Gordon’s future in New Orleans seems to be a bit uncertain, but one thing is for sure: The Hornets will have their chance to keep him. The team announced Thursday that it has extended Gordon a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. The Hornets can now match any offer made to him this summer.”

Young also reported news about Ryan Anderson: “It tends to work this way: Step 1) Win Most Improved in the NBA; Step 2) Prepare for a payday. The Orlando Magic have extended Ryan Anderson a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. You could file this one under: “It would’ve only been surprising if they didn’t do it.” The Magic have a new general manager in Rob Hennigan and one of his first roster moves was an easy one.”

Josh Smith is on the radar of a number of teams, but Danny Ferry is not ready to deal him, according to Marc Stein: “Teams have been calling the Atlanta Hawks all week to register trade interest in swingman Josh Smith, according to sources close to the situation. And one of those teams, sources said, is the Orlando Magic, who know that Smith ranks as one of Dwight Howard’s closest friends. But new Hawks general manager Danny Ferry apparently isn’t ready to part with Smith right away. Boston, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers — with Pau Gasol as the prime piece being offered in L.A.’s case — have joined Orlando this week in making their interest in Smith known.”

Mark Medina explains why the Lakers should pass on Josh Smith: “On paper, this move may look fine. The Lakers are still trading size for size. They’re adding speed. They’re also saving money. But Gasol is simply a much better player than Smith. As mentioned before, the best way the Lakers can upgrade their roster could simply involve putting Gasol in a better position to succeed.”

It was assumed that something was wrong with Dwyane Wade’s knee during the playoffs, and the notion was confirmed today by Tim Reynolds: “Dwyane Wade needs surgery on his ailing left knee and will not play in next month’s London Olympics. The Miami Heat guard called USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski on Thursday to break the news, which was not totally unexpected after Wade played through pain in the postseason. He appeared in all 23 Heat playoff games despite the knee problems, averaging 22.6 points during Miami’s five-game win over Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals.”

Chris Tomasson said Wade may not be the only Heat to withdraw from Olympics: “It’s not out of the question Chris Bosh also could drop out of Olympics. His agent, Henry Thomas, just told me he’ll talk to Bosh on it Fri.”

Remember David Stern’s controversial comment towards Jim Rome? He regrets his decision and compares himself to LeBron James, from Dan Steinberg: “So Wise asked Stern if he had any Rome regrets. “You know, I would do it again differently if I were asked the question,” Stern said. “What can I tell you? I’m like LeBron. You get a day older, and you hope you get wiser rather than just older.”

The Thunder are still trying to make a deal with Scott Brooks, and moved towards that goal today, from Woj: “The Oklahoma City Thunder have added a fourth year to a contract extension offer to coach Scott Brooks, but the two sides still have significant differences on salary, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Brooks’ contract expires on Saturday, and he could immediately become a candidate for the Portland Trail Blazers , sources said. Thunder GM Sam Presti and Brooks’ agent, Warren LeGarie, have had conversations this week, but there is still a gap between the sides.”