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Thunder, Heat trade Daequan Cook, draft picks

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced today that the team has acquired the 18th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and guard Daequan Cook from the Miami Heat in exchange for the 32nd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

According to the Associated Press, “the deal announced by the Heat on Wednesday clears about $3.4 million in salary cap space as Miami gets ready for next week’s start of free agency.”

“We are pleased to add Daequan Cook to the Thunder roster,” said Sam Presti, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager. “He will add depth and shooting to our backcourt.”

The Thunder now holds the 18th, 21st, 26th and 51st picks in tomorrow’s NBA Draft.

The 23-year old Cook is a three-year NBA veteran and holds career averages of 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He has appeared in 179 NBA games (26 starts) all with the Heat. Cook won the 2009 Foot Locker Three-Point shootout during the NBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix. The 6-5 guard has shot 35.8% from behind the arc for his career.

The Ohio State product was originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 21st overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and was traded to Miami along with a second round pick and cash considerations.

Robert Dozier breaks left foot

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Robert Dozier might remain Mr. Irrelevant for another year.

Selected with the 60th and final selection of last year’s NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, the 6- foot-9 forward out of the University of Memphis broke his left foot while drilling last week at AmericanAirlines Arena.

After spending this past season with a second-tier team in the Greek League, Dozier had returned to South Florida recently to begin workouts in advance of the Heat’s participation in the July NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

But after breaking a bone in his foot during non-contact work, surgery was required, with the procedure handled by Heat team physician Harlan Selesnick leaving Dozier sidelined for 12 weeks.

Heat exercise option on Mario Chalmers

The Miami Heat announced today that they have exercised the Team Option on Mario Chalmers. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chalmers, a 6’1”, 190-pound guard, has appeared in 155 regular season games (104 starts) averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.62 steals and 28.6 minutes. Last season, Chalmers finished 19th among NBA league leaders in steals-per-turnover (1.25) and 33rd in steals per game. During his rookie campaign, he became just the fifth player, and the first rookie, in franchise history to start in all 82 games while on his way to earning Second Team NBA All-Rookie honors. He currently ranks tied for 15th in three-point field goals made (189), 16th in assists (642) and 16th in steals (250) on the Heat’s all-time lists. Additionally, he has appeared in 12 postseason contests (seven starts) averaging 8.8 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.92 steals and 30.2 minutes.

Chalmers was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round (34th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. His draft rights were acquired by the Heat in exchange for two 2009 second-round draft picks and cash considerations on draft night.

Heat to exercise Chalmers option

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

And then there were three.

Point guard Mario Chalmers has become the third Miami Heat player secured on the books for 2010-11.

While neither side would confirm the formal paperwork has been completed, the Heat has informed Chalmers that it will pick up the option year on his rookie contract.

The Heat had until June 24, the day of the NBA Draft, to make its decision.

Chalmers now joins forward Michael Beasley and guard Daequan Cook as the only Heat players locked into 2010-11 salaries.

Still to be determined is the player option held by center Joel Anthony, who also faces a June 24 deadline, as well as a buyout decision on the final three years of the contract of forward Jabmes Jones, and guard Dwyane Wade’s decision on his 2010-11 option year.

Donald Trump, Chris Rock want LeBron in New York

The New York Post reports:

“New York would be a great thing for LeBron,” said Donald Trump, who has joined the committee along with a cavalcade of other Gotham notables, such as Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Boomer Esiason and Spike Lee.

“He would take over the city,” said Trump. Specifically addressing James, Trump said: “I am in many different cities, but I can tell you, LeBron, there is only one New York.”

Under the team’s plan, the stars would meet with the free agents, tout the city and even show them around, sources said.

Chris Rock, who has also agreed to join the effort, knows just what he would say to LeBron.

“You really want to live in Cleveland? That’s what I would tell him. Where do you want to live?” the comic told The Post.

Miami Heat hire Tim Hardaway

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning are officially a tandem again for the Miami Heat.

Only now, they’re making moves in the community and front office instead of on the court, where they led the Heat to division titles and perennial playoff appearances two decades ago.

The Heat confirmed Hardaway’s hiring Tuesday saying he would be the team’s Community and Corporate Liaison. Hardaway rejoins Mourning, who last year was brought in to work as vice president, player development.

Although the team never announced Hardaway’s hiring, he has made appearances at community events since April and was introduced as a `Heat legend.’

Dwyane Wade, business partners settle lawsuits

Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Attorneys have reached a settlement agreement in a series of cases involving Heat superstar guard Dwyane Wade’s business deals.

Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Peter Adrien announced Tuesday that a settlement had been reached in all the cases involving Wade and plaintiffs and former restaurant partners Mark Rodberg and Lauren Hollander.

The settlement was announced during the trail accusing Wade of breaching his contract to a chain of D. Wade Sports Grill restaurants. Wade was accused of failing to meet his marketing obligations to the restaurants, two of which opened, but closed within months in 2008.

Clippers fans march in streets for LeBron

The AP reports:

A band of Clippers fans took to the streets outside Staples Center to show love for LeBron James.

Clippers fans march in streets for LeBron

At least 75 Clippers fans in red-and-blue gear waved signs and chanted slogans as they marched up and down Chick Hearn Court on Thursday night in the hours before Game 5 of the Western Conference finals between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns.

With signs displaying the No. 6, which will be James’ uniform number next year, the fans chanted “We want the King!” and “L-B-J!”

Although the Clippers are a longshot in the LeBron sweepstakes after 17 losing seasons in the past 18 years, they’re among a handful of NBA teams with a combination of salary cap room, a solid supporting cast and a major media market to entice James.

Obama thinks LeBron fits with Bulls

The AP reports:

If LeBron James isn’t sure he can win in Cleveland, President Barack Obama thinks there’s an opportunity with his hometown Chicago Bulls.

“You know, like I said, I don’t want to meddle,” Obama told TNT. “I will say this: (Derrick) Rose, Joakim Noah it’s a pretty good core. You know, you could see LeBron fitting in pretty well there.” …

“I think that the most important thing for LeBron right now is actually to find a structure where he’s got a coach that he respects and is working hard with teammates who care about him and if that’s in Cleveland, then he should stay in Cleveland,” Obama said. “If he doesn’t feel like he can get it there, then someplace else.”

Shaq will consider joining Nets

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Cavaliers free agent center Shaquille O’Neal, a Newark native, told The Post he would consider the Nets as a destination this summer — intrigued because they now reside in his hometown.

O’Neal, the Cavs “other” free agent, praised the new Prudential Center as being an NBA hotspot and said he would rather them not move to Brooklyn in 2013.

“I think it’s better than most arenas, I think it’s one of the best arenas in the country,” O’Neal told The Post following the Cavaliers’ stunning second-round elimination against Boston on Thursday night. “Hopefully they can stay there forever. I don’t know what’s going on with the Brooklyn situation, but it says a lot for the city of Newark.”

InsideHoops.com Says: Shaq has limited impact at this point in his basketball career, and the Nets have Brook Lopez at center already. So while it’s fun to think about O’Neal heading over to Newark, in reality he’ll probably wind up continuing to play elsewhere, for contenders who need him a bit more.