The Clippers aren’t the only team making early noise in free agency. The Minnesota Timberwolves have are nearing a three-year, $16 million deal with their young forward, Chase Budinger, and are looking to bring in Oklahoma City guard, Kevin Martin.
According to USAToday’s Sam Amick, the Wolves have offered Martin a four-year:
The Minnesota Timberwolves have offered free agent shooting guard Kevin Martin a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $30 million, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks. The former Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard is still in discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Memphis Grizzlies have also shown interest in a possible sign-and-trade to land Martin as well. The Thunder have shown an interest in bringing Martin back as well, but a return continues to appear unlikely.
And according to Woj (who else?), Martin will likely accept:
Free agent Kevin Martin has reached agreement on a four year, $28 million deal with Minnesota, league source tells Y! Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2013
By request, the Los Angeles Lakers chose to pitch Dwight Howard after his meetings with the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks. From Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times: “The Lakers began their meeting with Dwight Howard at 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, becoming the fifth team to sit down with him in a two-day span. About 10 members of the Lakers and their affiliates attended the meeting in Beverly Hills, includingKobe Bryant, Steve Nash, General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Coach Mike D’Antoni.”
Lakers executive Jim Buss was also there but not team governor Jeanie Buss, who nonetheless sent out a pro-Howard tweet earlier Tuesday, saying the “Lakers offer 1) best opportunities for your playing & post-playing career 2) have BEST fans 3) I’m here for you.”
The Lakers can offer him $118 million over five years while the other four teams can offer $88 million over four years. Golden State is too far over the salary cap to sign Howard as a free agent and can acquire him only in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, an unlikely prospect.
Howard can’t officially sign with anybody until July 10 but the speed with which he has scheduled these meetings suggests he’ll make up his mind before then.
Howard has reportedly left LA to decide his future, and the spotlight will remain on him until he does. Kobe Bryant was said to have pitched Howard on winning. Very straight forward, as Kobe usually is. For Lakers fans, hopefully they were not just last words.
Other popular free agents such as Josh Smith, Andre Igoudala, Al Jefferson and Nikola Pekovic will likely not be signed until Howard falls as they are all second options in this Dwightmare we currently live in.
Where will those semi-stars eventually fall? Here’s more news around the NBA: