Category: General NBA insight

Martell Webster has agreed to a four-year deal to stay with the Washington Wizards.

Webster reached terms with the team Tuesday. The contract can’t be signed until July 10 under NBA free agency rules.

Bringing back Webster was a top priority for the Wizards. The eight-year veteran swingman averaged a career-high 11.4 points last season and was a respected locker room leader. He could also serve as a mentor for Otto Porter, chosen No. 3 overall by Washington last month in the draft.

— Reported by the Associated Press

A three-team trade between the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks was made Tuesday that included Eric Bledsoe and J.J. Redick, Yahoo! Sports reported.

Redick and Jared Dudley ended up with the the Clippers, Bledsoe and Caron Butler went to the Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks received two second-round draft picks, according to the report.

The Clippers’ deal for Redick was part of a sign-and-trade in exchange for the draft picks. According to Yahoo, Redick agreed to terms on a four-year, $27 million contract.

— Reported by the Sports Xchange

Veteran center Nazr Mohammed says he is staying with the Chicago Bulls.

Mohammed announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he will re-sign with his hometown team, saying it was ”an easy decision” and he was looking forward to ”going to battle with a group of guys who never made excuses and just tried to find a way to win.”

Several media outlets also reported that the Bulls have agreed to a two-year deal with Mike Dunleavy Jr. as they try to boost their shooting.

— Reported by the Associated Press

The New Orleans Pelicans have made an offer to Sacramento Kings restricted free agent guard Tyreke Evans, two people familiar with the situation said Monday.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the offer was supposed to remain private. Several media outlets reported the deal was for four years and ranging between $40 million and $48 million.

Because he’s a restricted free agent, the Kings will have the opportunity to match any offers Evans signs. Contracts can’t be inked until July 10, after next season’s salary cap is set.

— Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Chris Duhon, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

In 46 games (9 starts) last season with the Lakers, Duhon averaged 2.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 17.8 minutes while recording three double-figure scoring games, 10-plus assists twice and one double-double.

LeBron James has this summer on his mind, and is already starting to plan for next season.

The summer of 2014, that can wait.

James said Tuesday that he is not thinking about the possibility of becoming a free agent in 12 months, though he did acknowledge that the prospects of competing with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley for several more championships with the Miami Heat is more than a tiny bit intriguing.

”That’s the goal,” James said. ”That’s the ultimate finish. And we all hope that can happen, obviously.”

James’ final interview session of this season revealed plenty in 17 minutes, including that he’s already feeling an itch to get back on the basketball court after just a few days off, that he’ll stop at nothing to give longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson anything she wants on their wedding day in a couple months, and that he’s making no secret of his hope that the Heat bring back at least the majority of this year’s championship roster.

The most interesting news, however, was when he spoke of his short- and long-term plans. First, he’s vowing to come back better next season, which is no small promise from someone with four MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards and who carries the tag of ”best player in the world.” And then next summer, it certainly sounds as if he’s going to give the prospects of staying in Miami a good, long look.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Two days before the NBA draft, Pacers coach Frank Vogel was handed a new task – finding another assistant coach.

A day after word leaked that Vogel’s top assistant, Brian Shaw, had been hired as Denver’s new head coach, Vogel told reporters he already has a list of potential replacements. The goal: Make a quick hire.

”I’m thinking like 3 or 4 o’clock this afternoon,” Vogel joked Tuesday when asked about having a timetable for the hire. ”Seriously, we’d like to do it as quickly as the process allows, making sure, of course, that we do our due diligence on the people we’re bringing in here.”

Vogel did not drop any hints of who might be on his list of candidates, but he did talk about a few essential skills the next assistant will need.

He wants someone who fits in with a young team that appears to be on the verge of becoming a perennial championship contender.

— Reported by Michael Marot of the Associated Press

The Toronto Raptors named Bobby Webster as vice president of basketball management and strategy, the team announced Wednesday.

Webster worked for the NBA in New York for the past seven years. His most recent position was associate director of salary cap management.

“I am delighted to have Bobby join our basketball operations team,” Raptors president and general manager Masai Ujiri said. “His skill set will be valuable in a number of areas, and his experience and knowledge of the CBA and its complexities from a League level will be a great asset to the organization.”

— Reported by the Sports Xchange

San Antonio Spurs veteran guard Manu Ginobili told reporters Saturday he is contemplating retiring at the end of the season.

Ginobili is in the final year of his contract and will be 36 in July. He has dealt with a variety of injuries in recent years.

“All season long I kind of knew that I was going to play one or two more years,” he said. “But when you are 36 — I’m going to be 36 pretty soon — everything is a day-by-day basis. Once the season finishes and I see how I feel, I can’t imagine me not playing at least one more year here, but time will tell. We’ll see.”

— Reported by the Sports Xchange

Former professional women’s basketball player and Olympic gold medal winner Chamique Holdsclaw will have to take anger management classes after pleading guilty to charges that she shot into a player’s car and smashed the windows with a baseball bat, prosecutors said on Saturday.

Holdsclaw, 35, pleaded guilty on Friday to aggravated assault, criminal damage and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, prosecutors said. She will be on probation for the next three years.

The charges stem from a Nov. 13 incident involving Holdsclaw and Jennifer Lacy, a player for the Tulsa Shock Women’s National Basketball Association team.

Reported by David Beasley of Reuters