July 2013 – Page 29 – NBA Blog

Dwight Howard leaves Lakers for Houston Rockets

Dwight Howard has agreed to terms with the Houston Rockets, joining an up-and-coming team with one of the NBA’s most dynamic young players while becoming the biggest free-agent name to ever turn his back on the Lakers.

He ditched the Lakers despite their very public campaign to retain him, including numerous billboards around Los Angeles with his image and the simple slogan “STAY.”

But Howard left, eschewing pitches from Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and a team of Lakers executives in a lengthy meeting Tuesday in Beverly Hills…

Howard declined a five-year, $118-million contract offer from the Lakers to accept a four-year, $88-million deal with the Rockets, his third team in an 11-month period.

“Walt Disney said, ‘Big risks, big rewards,’” Howard said. “He put everything he had into ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ and the sky was the limit. Now there’s Disneyland and Disney World.

“It’s a big sacrifice leaving $30 million. Really, really a big sacrifice. But I want to win a championship and I want to get back to being the person who I am and have some fun and enjoy playing basketball. And I think that’s what I’ll find in Houston.”

Reported by Mike Bresnahan and T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times

Bojan Bogdanovic and Nets agree on 3-year contract

The Nets came to an agreement last night with 2011 second-round pick Bojan Bogdanovic, according to a league source.

Bogdanovic will sign a three-year deal with the Nets starting at about $2.5 million when the NBA’s moratorium on transactions ends Wednesday. The deal also contains a player option in the third year, the source said. The Nets used most of their taxpayer’s mid-level exception to sign Bogdanovic, the only way they could sign a player for more than the veteran’s minimum, due to the fact they are far over the luxury tax threshold.

By not using all of the mini mid-level exception — which starts at $3.18 million this year — the Nets saved themselves roughly $3 million on what will be a massive luxury tax bill thanks to their massive payroll following the blockbuster deal with the Celtics.

Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Chris Bosh to promote NBA on India tour

Having recently helped the Heat win a second-consecutive NBA title, Chris Bosh will turn his attention to helping the league conquer a new frontier.

The eight-time All-Star will visit Mumbai, India, July 16-18, to participate in a series of activities to help grow interest in the game. Having gained a stronghold in China, the NBA has targeted India and its population of more than 1 billion as the next lucrative international market.

Reported by Craig Davis of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Former NBA referee Hue Hollins dies

Former longtime NBA referee Hue Hollins died. He was believed to be 70.

Hollins’ death was announced by the NBA Referees Association.

Hollins officiated 19 NBA Finals games and five All-Star games during his 27-year career.

He was a native of Waco, Texas.

“Hue reached the pinnacle of officiating through an unmatched dedication to perfecting his profession throughout his 27-year career as an NBA referee,” NBRA general counsel Lee Seham said in a statement. “His hard work was always on display on the court, but never more evident than during his work in the NBA Finals, of which he worked every year during the 1990s. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

Reported by the Sports Xchange

Matt Barnes will stay with Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to sign swingman Matt Barnes to a three-year deal that will pay him close to $12 million, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

Barnes, 33, averaged 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 25.7 minutes as a reserve for the Clippers last season while making $854,389. After playing for eight different teams during his 10-year NBA career, Barnes is happy to get some security.

Reported by Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports

Mavs move on after failing to land Dwight Howard

It’s Plan B again for the Dallas Mavericks in free agency.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted Friday that it was ”time to get back to work” amid multiple media reports that Dallas was out of the running for free agent center Dwight Howard.

”The Mavs are back open for business,” Cuban wrote on Twitter.

It’s the second straight summer Dallas has missed on a big name in free agency after declining to bring back key pieces of the 2011 championship team in the name of salary cap space.

Reported by the Associated Press

Celtics introduce Brad Stevens as new coach

The Boston Celtics introduced Brad Stevens as their new coach Friday at a press conference at the team’s training center in Waltham, Mass.

Stevens is the 17th head coach in the franchise’s history.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and members of the team’s ownership group were also present.

“One of the things that I am so thrilled about is working at a place that has such high standards and places such a value on culture,” Stevens said.

He added that he is “absolutely humbled” by the chance to coach the Celtics.

Reported by the Sports Xchange

Warriors will land Andre Iguodala

The Warriors have been informed by Dwight Howard he will not be joining Golden State, according to a team source.

According to USA Today, Howard has chosen to leave the Los Angeles Lakers to become a Houston Rocket.

The Warriors emerged from long shot to viable option after meeting with Howard on Monday. But despite adding swingman Andre Iguodala, Howard chose to pair up with All-NBA guard James Harden to become the next great center for the Rockets. Houston can offer the same four-year, $88 million contract the Warriors could offer but Texas doesn’t have state taxes, which means Howard can keep more of his money.

That means Golden State will keep starting center Andrew Bogut.

About an hour before this news, the Warriors have reached a four-year deal worth $48 million with Iguodala, multiple sources confirmed.

The Warriors cleared the cap space needed by trading the expiring contracts of Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson and Brandon Rush to Utah. The deal also included multiple picks, including the Warriors’ 2014 first-rounder.

Reported by Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group

Warriors trying to dump salaries to get Dwight Howard

The Golden State Warriors must believe they have a realistic chance of landing free agent Dwight Howard, because they are trying to dump contracts to have enough cap space to sign Howard, ESPN.com reported.

The Warriors would need work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire Howard.

According to ESPN.com, Golden State is prepared to offer the Lakers Andrew Bogut and his expiring $14 million contract and either Harrison Barnes or Klay Thompson in the deal.

Reported by the Sports Xchange

Cleveland Cavaliers will sign Earl Clark

Earl Clark put his name on the NBA map last season, occasionally stepping up for nice stretches while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Clark is considered a player that teams should bring off the bench, but he’s shown flashes of being worth starting every now and then. He has drive and talent. And will put on a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey soon.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached an agreement on a two-year contract with free agent forward Earl Clark, sources told ESPN.com.

The second year of the deal is a team option, according to a source.

The Sporting News reported the total value of the deal is $9 million.

Clark leaves the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been in a holding pattern with free agents as they wait for a decision from Dwight Howard, after averaging career highs in points (7.3) and rebounds (5.5) last season.

Reported by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com