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Mavs reach out to Ramon Sessions

The Dallas Mavericks, in the aftermath of Thursday’s stunning departure of point guard Jason Kidd, have reached out for a second time t

o Ramon Sessions, this time with a starting job to pitch.

A source close to the situation said the Mavs initially contacted Sessions’ representatives prior to Kidd opting to pass on a three-year, $9 million offer from Dallas and instead agreeing to a similar deal to join the New York Knicks.

After Kidd reached his decision to move on, the Mavs again reached out to Sessions, the 26-year-old point guard that was traded from Cleveland to the Lakers at the trade deadline last season. Sessions, the source said, is seeking a starting job and security.

The source said another round of talks with the Mavs are set for Friday.

— Reported by Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/8133677/source-dallas-mavericks-turn-attention-point-guard-ramon-sessions

Cavaliers sign rookies Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed 2012 NBA Draft picks, guard Dion Waiters (Syracuse) and forward/center Tyler Zeller (North Carolina), to contracts, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contact from the team. So, this is standard, and expected.

Waiters, 20, was selected by the Cavs with the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Zeller, 22, was drafted 17th overall by the Dallas Mavericks and his draft rights were acquired by the Cavs in a draft night trade.

Celtics likely keeping Brandon Bass

The Boston Celtics reached an agreement with Brandon Bass Thursday afternoon on a three-year deal, according to a league source.

Bass opted out of the final year of his previous contract in order to secure a longer-term deal, but expressed a strong desire to return to Boston throughout the latter part of the season.

Bass appeared in 59 games last year — including 39 starts as he moved to the starting power forward role in the second half of the season — and averaged career-highs of 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

The Celtics acquired Bass from the Orlando Magic last season in a sign-and-trade deal in exchange for Glen Davis.

— Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

Myla Sinanaj, ex-girlfriend of Kris Humphries, says she is pregnant

Kris Humphries may not be the sharpest tool, but he sure is potent, because TMZ has learned his ex-girlfriend, Myla Sinanaj is PREGNANT.

Sources directly connected with Myla tell us Myla confirmed Monday that she’s 3 months pregnant and says Kris is definitely the father.

This could be used in Kris’ divorce with Kim Kardashian, because Kris has claimed he was devastated by the break-up and suffered emotionally. This development further cements the fact that Kris moved on quickly.

We’re told Myla plans to have the baby but wants to raise it alone, because she believes Kris has betrayed her by talking crap about their relationship.

— Reported by TMZ

Eric Gordon wants to go to Suns, not stay with Hornets

Eric Gordon is in Las Vegas vying for one of the final spots on the U.S. national team that will play in this summer’s Olympics. He wants to go to London. But he doesn’t want to come back to New Orleans.

Gordon, a restricted free agent who has a four-year, $58 million offer sheet from the Phoenix Suns, believes they are more committed to his future than the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets acquired Gordon from the Los Angeles Clippers last season in the deal that sent point guard Chris Paul to the Clippers.

Paul didn’t want to be in New Orleans any longer, either, and Gordon suggested if the Hornets match the Suns’ offer and retain him, they’d be looking at a similar situation. The four-year offer from the Suns, a source said, includes a player option on the fourth year.

“Phoenix just showed a lot more interest, overall, and definitely in how they negotiated,” Gordon said. “I don’t know what New Orleans’ plans are for me. There are no negotiations right now.”

— Reported by Ric Bucher of ESPN.com

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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