July 5, 2012 – Page 2 – NBA Blog

Jason Kidd to sign with Knicks

In an unforeseen reversal, Jason Kidd has decided to leave the Dallas Mavericks to join the New York Knicks.

“I think I can help,” Kidd told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher, adding he felt the Knicks have more “pieces to work with.”

With the Mavericks confident they were closing in Thursday on a verbal agreement on a three-year deal with Kidd worth $9 million, sources told ESPN.com that Kidd — after all-day deliberations with both teams — has decided instead to leave Dallas to join the Knicks for a similar deal.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

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LeBron, CP3 both recruiting Ray Allen

LeBron James and Chris Paul are the closest of friends, but they will be at cross purposes over the next few days. They are recruiting against each other for the services of Ray Allen.

Allen hasn’t ruled out re-signing with the Boston Celtics, who have made him a strong monetary offer, but signs are pointing to Allen choosing between James’ Miami Heat and Paul’s Los Angeles Clippers.

On Thursday, the Heat will host Allen for a visit as they try to persuade him to accept less money and perhaps a lesser role to join their bid to repeat as champions. Friday, Allen is scheduled to visit the Clippers, who have more money to offer and a clear role as the starting shooting guard.

James and Paul, sources said, have been actively recruiting Allen to join their respective teams. Earlier this week, James tweeted a photo of Allen wearing a Heat uniform. Wednesday, Dwyane Wade sent out a tweet describing Thursday as a big day for the franchise.

— Reported by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com

Jason Kidd may stay with Mavericks

Jason Kidd appears prepared to end his career where he started it — with the Dallas Mavericks.

The 39-year-old is closing in on a multiyear deal, a source close to the situation said. The source said the deal is not completed, but barring any snags, Kidd will close out his career alongside Dirk Nowitzki.

The value of the contract was not known.

After a rough few days that saw prized free agent Deron Williams opt to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets, Jason Terry agree to terms with the Boston Celtics and then another Mavs target Steve Nash stunningly get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavs are finally nearing their first positive move of a so-far frustrating free-agent period by bringing back Kidd.

— Reported by Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas

Lakers might keep Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum

Lakers might keep Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum

A source familiar with the Lakers’ thinking told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Dave McMenamin the team intends to keep its core of Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum together next season now that Nash will be in the fold.

“It will be a huge honor to play alongside Steve,” Gasol said in a video chat Wednesday night. “Obviously I know him for many years now, and he’s been one of the elite point guards in the league for as long as I can remember, as long as I’ve played in the NBA. It will be a true pleasure to play with Steve. He’s one of the best point guards that has ever played the game, and still has a lot of juice in him. So I look forward to that.

In addition, the Lakers are no longer trying to retain point guard Ramon Sessions, who opted out of the final year and $4.55 million of his contract to become a free agent, a source told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne.

Sessions was hoping for the security of a longer term contract, but while discussions with the Lakers were positive, they never progressed toward a multiyear deal, the source told Shelburne.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Goran Dragic to join Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns, moving quickly after trading face of the franchise Steve Nash, have reached terms on a contract with point guard Goran Dragic, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns have reached a verbal agreement on a four-year contract worth an estimated $34 million that Dragic has pledged to sign July 11, which is the first day contracts can be signed.

Dragic will have a player option entering the fourth year, sources said.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

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Thunder, Hasheem Thabeet agree on deal

Thunder, Hasheem Thabeet agree on two-year deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder has agreed with former No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet on a two-year contract.

The deal cannot officially be signed until the league’s free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 11. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately known, but the contract, which will be fully guaranteed for both seasons, is believed to be a minimal salary, or roughly $880,000 in the first year of the contract.

Thabeet will join his fourth team in four seasons after being drafted by Memphis in 2009. He was taken one spot ahead of Thunder guard James Harden, but the 7-foot-3 center has had a disappointing start to his professional career after earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in his final two seasons at Connecticut.

— Reported by Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman

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