The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to deal with Sam Dalembert, according to Marc Stein of ESPN: “The Dallas Mavericks have reached a verbal agreement with free-agent big man Samuel Dalembert to be their new starting center, according to sources close to the process. Sources told ESPN.com that the Dalembert has agreed to sign with the Mavericks as they continue to work on the final points of a contract. Dallas continues to pursue free-agent center Greg Oden along with Miami, New Orleans, Sacramento and San Antonio. But Dalembert emerged as the Mavericks’ top priority after they lost out to Houston in the Dwight Howard sweepstakes and decided to pass on Andrew Bynum, who signed with Cleveland.”
The Bulls are hoping to work out a deal to give an extension to Luol Deng, according to Joe Cowley of Sun Times: ““Well, we love Luol,’’ Forman, who arrived into Vegas on Monday to watch Summer League play, said. “We see Luol as a valuable member of this team moving forward, so the window is open to talk about an extension. We’ve had some conversations. Whether something gets done, I don’t know. But whether it’s this summer or next summer, those are conversations we’ll continue to have.’’… “I mean our goal has been to bring this group back, and I know [Deng’s] name was floated out there [in trade rumors], but we didn’t initiate calls,’’ Forman said. “We’ve gotten calls on some of our guys, but our goal has been to bring this group back healthy.’’
Chauncey Billups talked about the importance of… himself. He also wants to start over Brandon Knight, from Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: “I think leadership is severely, severely undervalued, and I felt like that being undervalued led them to making the move they made and it cost them,” Billups said. “I didn’t want to see it cost them like this as a lifetime Piston, but I do want people to know the impact I made on the franchise.”… “That pride, competitiveness doesn’t go with age,” said Billups, who’ll turn 37 years old before the season begins. “I feel like I’m gonna give us the best chance to win basketball games in the starting point guard role.”
- Billups also discussed his relationship with Joe Dumars and why he felt the need to hear an apology from the President of basketball operations: ““I just needed to hear him apologize for how it went down, to kind of stand on it, and he did that,” Billups said. “As a man, I can’t do anything but respect that… “Because I had to know it was nothing personal, it was what he thought was a good business move. But we had a personal relationship. I forgave Joe for all of that and we moved forward. I’m great.”… “Of course! You spend so much time with somebody, it becomes personal,” Billups said. “I had a better relationship with him than anyone on our crew.”
The Pistons may have interest in Rajon Rondo, but including Andre Drummond in any deal will not start any conversations, according to Goodwill: ” But the Pistons’ interest in Rondo makes more sense than Jennings, as Rondo is regarded as one of the best point guards in a point-guard heavy league. It was reported the Celtics would want Andre Drummond, which is a non-starter for the Pistons. “There are guys who, a pecking order of things we would or wouldn’t do, Drummond is certainly one of those guys we wouldn’t move,” said Dumars, who wouldn’t claim anyone else as “untouchable”.
- The Orlando Magic have come to terms with Ronnie Price, from Josh Robbins of Orlando Sentinel: “The Orlando Magic have reached an agreement in principle with free-agent point guard Ronnie Price. No contract has been signed yet, and the agreement is contingent on Price passing a physical. Price, who turned 30 last month, likely will serve as the Magic’s third-string point guard, occupying a role similar to the one Ish Smith had at the beginning of last season. Price has played for four teams during his eight-year NBA career.”
Michael Jordan promoted his brother within the Charlotte Bobcats organization, from Spears of Yahoo Sports: “Larry Jordan, an older brother of Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan, was promoted to team director of player personnel, several sources told Yahoo! Sports. Along with Michael Jordan, Larry will answer to team president of basketball operations Rod Higgins and general manager Rich Cho. Larry Jordan’s previous job was team director of special projects. He fills a position that was vacant for three years after Buzz Peterson departed to become the head coach at Appalachian State.
Paul George is happy to be in Indiana and emphasized loyalty, from Scott Agness of Pacers.com: “I definitely want to win,” George said of what he desires. “I want to be a champion. I want to get a ring. I think all of that should be in my future as an NBA player. I think that’ll be the case of if I want to leave or stay in Indiana. I think the only thing that will change that is who’s on the roster and who’s with me. Now, I know what I have with me now and that’s more than enough to win a championship. Again, where I’m at — I’m a happy player and I’m in a happy place right now.”… “It’s still early,” George said, “but we’ve talked and I think we’re on the same page. It’s mutual where we’re at. “It’s all about loyalty and that’s what I’m strong on is being loyal.”
Byron Mullens is nearing a deal with the Clippers, from Woj: “Free-agent center Byron Mullens is nearing an agreement on a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The proposed deal, which would include a player option for the 2014-15 season, is on course to be finalized late Wednesday or Thursday, sources said. Several teams had pursued Mullens, including the Los Angeles Lakers, sources said. Mullens is one more addition for the Clippers in a summer of deals that included re-signing All-Star Chris Paul and acquiring guards J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley via trade.”
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Ummm… You mean “Glen” Grunwald. Ernie GrunFELD is the GM of the Wizards.
Smh.
For all the Knicks managerial moves this site seems to criticize, you’d think they would at least know the name of the guy orchestrating them.
Fixed. Sorry for the oversight.
Dwight is just using D’Antoni as an excuse. Dwight wanted out because it wasn’t the ideal situation for him (ie the Lakers wouldn’t kiss his ass…evidently being the future isn’t enough). But all of his excuses of Houston is a different offense than LA’s is exactly that–excuses.
Dwight Howard is a good pick n roll guy as a lot of ppl can attest. That was why MDA was looking forward to coming to the Lakers. “Kobe AND I have Nash and Dwight to run the pick n roll with? Sign me up!” Remember how enthusiastic he was for coming here? But eventually it started to wane horribly? That was right around the time where he was learning that his guys don’t want to play the role they’re best at.
I do (surprisingly) believe Nash that the offense will be more fluent because it will be ran through Gasol.
I get that whole premise of bash Dwight Howard because he left thing out of lakers fans. However, Mike D alienated his whole team last year with 2 exceptions… Kobe and Nash. He also was so stubborn with his offense that he benched Pau and tried to get the guy to shoot 3 pointers. Thats never going to happen out of a F/C that has never really operated outside of 15 feet before in his career. Then theres the injury factor which Mike D did not handle well at all and historically never has.
What people fail to realize here is that in Phoenix Mike D had his ideal roster for the most part and still only had a 7-8 man rotation. Mike D has not had his ideal roster since then. There was always the excuse of wait until so-and-so comes back. However the roster was built for Phil and not Mike D. Mike D refused to adjust. Kupchak refused to get Mike D some players for his system saying that when everyone came back everything would be wonderful. Everything was far from wonderful. Everyone can and rightfully so blame Buss and Kupchak for the dysfunction. Dwight looked at the dysfunction and basically said no thanks. An athlete only has a limited shelf life.
As great as the lakers have historically been, unless something radical is done in the next few years, there will be a celtic-of-the-90s-like drought for the next era of the lakers and for the rest of Dwight’s career, thus proving Dwight Howard right in his decision to leave, in spite of his poor execution in the matter. Dwight’s execution of the matter makes Lebron’s “The Decision” seem like childs play in comparison.
Oh, I’m not dissing Dwight for picking Houston, it was the right pick for him. I’m just saying he should’ve just came out and said I don’t want to be here when he knew he didn’t want to be here instead of stringing the team along.
As far as the Lakers drought goes, we’ll see. A lot of their future is tied into next summer. This is the first time in ages they’ve had this kind of cap space and if they pick right, they could be setting themselves up for another era (which is the plan). Granted, I have to trust idiot Jim Buss (whose nowhere near his father in terms of running a franchise) to make the right call. Hopefully, Jim will listen for the next few years to Mitch, Phil and Jeanie since he obviosuly doesn’t have a clue.
RE: MDA. I don’t know. I think if the roster had been healthy all year and in the playoffs, they wouldn’t have been swept by SA. Plus, the team really has been built for Phil and plugging MDA into that was boneheaded (yet another reason idiot Jimmie needs to step down…I don’t think it’s Mitch since he can only do what Jim allows him to do since Jim signs the checks).
That said, MDA is fortunate that the Lakers pulled out of their nosedive at the end of the season because if reports are true, he was about to get bounced out of there.
I’m not even really giving this upcoming season much bother. I’m watching but I don’t expect much since they’re clearly in cruise control since they know they’re going to overhaul the entire roster next summer, when everyone comes off the books.