Month: July 2008

Gilbert Arenas agrees to new Wizards deal

The Washington Times (Mike Jones) reports: Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has informed Wizards team president Ernie Grunfeld he will agree to a six-year deal worth $111 million, in his words, giving back roughly $16 million of the max, $127 million deal the team offered him Tuesday morning. “This is in line with what I’ve been saying the whole time,” Arenas said Thursday evening in a telephone conversation from China. “You see players take max deals and they financially bind their teams. I don’t wanna be one of those players and three years down the road your team is strapped and can’t do anything about it.”

Sonics move to OKC. New name soon

The Sonics are officially moving to Oklahoma City (see the news), but the team name will remain with the city of Seattle. I just spoke with an Oklahoma City-based representative of the team, and was told that they will reveal the new name “soon.” I was told they haven’t actually decided on a final new name yet, and that OKC ownership is working with the league and accepting their suggestions while making the final selection.

– Jeff

Kendrick Perkins and Bill Walker have surgery

The Boston Celtics announced today that center Kendrick Perkins and second round draft pick Bill Walker both had successful surgical procedures today at New England Baptist Hospital.  Perkins underwent arthroscopic left shoulder surgery while Walker underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery.  Both surgeries were preformed by Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon and was assisted by Dr. Alan Curtis and Dr. John Richmond.  No timetable has been set for their return.

Danny Granger wants extension

The Indianapolis Star reports: Danny Granger’s long-range future with the Indiana Pacers could be settled later this summer. The 6-9 swingman, who was the Pacers’ leading scorer last season in his third year in the NBA, is eligible for a long-term extension. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he’ll likely begin talks with the Pacers in a few weeks… Granger is scheduled to make $2.3 million next season, after which he becomes a restricted free agent. The Pacers must at least make a qualifying offer of $3.3 million for 2009-10 to retain the right to match any free agent offer he receives.

Knicks want Chris Duhon

The New York Post (Marc Berman) reports:  Bulls backup point guard Chris Duhon, during a visit to the Knicks’ Westchester campus on Day 1 of free agency yesterday, met with coach Mike D’Antoni and was offered a two-year contract believed to be more than $7 million, according to league sources. Duhon was mulling the offer last night and could accept as soon as today.  The Knicks have proclaimed they do not want to go beyond two years on any signing so as not to compromise their chances of getting under the salary cap in 2010. That amount is a good chunk of the annual $5.5 million mid-level exception.

Sixers want Josh Smith

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Joe Juliano) reports: With more than $11 million in salary-cap space available, the 76ers dove into free agency shortly after the bell rang at 12:01 a.m. yesterday and targeted Josh Smith, the young and talented forward of the Atlanta Hawks, as their primary prospect, but not their only one. The 6-foot-9 Smith, a restricted free agent, was contacted by the Sixers almost immediately. A team spokesman said Smith and his representatives planned to meet today with president and general manager Ed Stefanski. The spokesman also said the Sixers contacted Smith’s teammate, 6-8 forward Josh Childress, yesterday and expect to bring him to Philadelphia, but did not say when.

Bobcats let Othella Harrington go

The Charlotte Observer reports: The Bobcats’ decision not to exercise an option on forward Othella Harrington for next season will save the team about $2.55million in player payroll. A chronic knee injury limited Harrington to 22 game appearances last season. Harrington was signed as a free agent in the summer of 2006 to add experience and defense at power forward. R.B.

Gerald Green to Mavs

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Jeff Caplan) reports: Gerald Green, a former high school prodigy out of Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks, Green’s agent Colin Bryant said. A first round pick of the Boston Celtics in 2005, the slender, 6-foot-8 Green was part of the trade that sent Kevin Garnett from Minnesota to Boston. The Timberwolves traded Green to Houston last season. He played in one game for his hometown team before being released. Bryant was on his way to Dallas on Wednesday morning to work out the specifics of the deal.

Jose Calderon staying with Raptors

The Toronto Sun (Ryan Wolstat) reports:  Not many doubts remained after the Raptors traded T.J. Ford to the Indiana Pacers last week, but Jose Calderon confirmed the expected yesterday, when he inferred on his website that he will be the Raptors’ starter at point guard for years to come. “Early this morning, through my agents, I reached a preliminary agreement with the Toronto Raptors,” Calderon wrote…  Contractual details will be officially released July 9th, but the expected terms are around five years at $7.5-8.5 million US a season.