NBA Teams – Page 1225 – NBA Blog

Al Jefferson to join Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats have been trying to put themselves on the NBA map for a long time. For far too long, they’ve been a doormat, suffering big loss after big loss. And apparently they’ve had enough. And will now overpay a bit to get a big guy who can score and rebound in a Charlotte jersey.

Free-agent big man Al Jefferson is headed to the Charlotte Bobcats, according to sources close to the process.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Utah Jazz center, after a two-day visit with the Bobcats, has verbally agreed to a three-year contract with Charlotte worth an estimated $41 million.

The deal contains a player option in Jefferson’s contract after the second year, sources said.

Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Kyle Korver agrees to multiyear deal with Atlanta Hawks

Every team that actually wants to win — and that’s most of them — needs shooters. Guys that don’t necessarily create their own shot, but can stretch the floor, catch a pass, fire it up and hit nothing but net. Kyle Korver is one such player. And therefore was in demand. But despite being pursued by multiple teams, Korver will be staying where he was last season.

The Hawks landed their first free agent Wednesday night — and it was one of their own.

Kyle Korver reached an agreement to re-sign with the Hawks on a multiyear deal, according to a person familiar with the situation. Per NBA rules, the contract cannot be signed until July 10.

The sharp-shooting Korver was a hot commodity during free agency and sought by several teams. The Hawks met with Korver this week in California, where he makes his offseason home, while in Los Angeles to speak to free-agent center Dwight Howard.

Even with Korver’s contract, the Hawks still have enough room to sign Howard to a maximum deal.

Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Boston Celtics name Brad Stevens as next head coach

In a fairly shocking move, the Boston Celtics announced today that they have come to an agreement with Brad Stevens to be the 17th head coach of the team.

Stevens, age 36, has served for the past six years as the head coach of Butler University men’s basketball team, never winning fewer than 22 games and leading the Bulldogs to two national championship games against Duke and Connecticut. His career win percentage is .772, including a 33-5 season in 2009-10. He was also the youngest coach to reach the Final Four since Bob Knight in 1973.

A native of Zionsville, Indiana, Stevens was a three-time academic All-America nominee while earning four varsity letters at DePauw University, before graduating with a degree in economics. He later joined the Butler University program as the coordinator of basketball operations under then-coach Thad Matta, before being named head coach in 2007.

“Brad and I share a lot of the same values,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “Though he is young, I see Brad as a great leader who leads with impeccable character and a strong work ethic. His teams always play hard and execute on both ends of the court. Brad is a coach who has already enjoyed lots of success, and I look forward to working with him towards Banner 18.”

Stevens and his wife Tracy, along with their children Brady and Kinsley, will be introduced to the media at 11:00am on Friday at the Celtics Training Center at Healthpoint.

Read NBA fan reaction and share your opinion at this basketball forum topic.

David West will stick with Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers wanted David West to stick around and lead a championship run. The 32-year-old power forward never planned on leaving town.

West agreed to a three-year contract with Indiana on the second day of free agency, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. The person requested anonymity because NBA rules prohibit teams from announcing signings until July 10. The deal is reportedly worth $36 million.

For the Pacers, Tuesday’s announcement may turn out to be their biggest move of the entire offseason.

”Obviously, our No. 1 priority is to get David West signed,” president of basketball operations Larry Bird said Monday, reiterating the point his predecessor Donnie Walsh and general manager Kevin Pritchard made two weeks earlier at an end-of-the-season news conference.

Reported by Michael Marot of the Associated Press

Tony Allen will stay with Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed Tony Allen to a four-year contract worth $20 million, a person familiar with the agreement said Tuesday.

Allen is one of the league’s best perimeter defenders and a key to the Grizzlies’ run to the Western Conference finals last season. He drew interest from other teams but decided to stick with a Memphis team coming off the best season in franchise history.

”Memphis stand up!!!!” Allen wrote on his Twitter page.

”Thank you Lord for all that you’ve done and all that (you’re) doing in my life. I am so grateful and humbled.”

Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Timberwolves adding Kevin Martin, keeping Chase Budinger

The Minnesota Timberwolves entered unrestricted free agency with two priorities at the top of their list – add a shooting guard with range and bringing back Chase Budinger.

Within the matter of a couple of hours on Tuesday, new team president Flip Saunders accomplished both of those goals.

The Timberwolves agreed to a four-year, $30 million deal with shooting guard Kevin Martin and a three-year, $16 million with Budinger, according to two people with knowledge of the deals. Budinger’s deal includes a player option for the final season. The people requested anonymity because an official announcement has not been made.

The agreements, which can’t become official until July 10, were two strong moves to address the team’s woeful outside shooting last season. The Wolves ranked dead last in 3-point shooting percentage last year, and Saunders made it a point to get more shooters to complement point guard Ricky Rubio’s slick passing.

Reported by Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press

C.J. Watson will sign with Indiana Pacers

Although just a backup guard. C.J. Watson has shown plenty of flashes that he’s a legit player, and one that can step up and exceed expectations when a team’s starter is unable to play. So, he keeps geting signed.

C.J. Watson, backup point guard for the Brooklyn Nets, agreed to a two-year contract with the Indiana Pacers, sources confirmed to ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard.

Watson’s agreement was earlier reported by HoopsWorld.

Watson tweeted “keep up with the pace” on Monday, in an apparent nod to his choice of teams.

Watson, 29, had a player option for $1.1 million but opted out to become an unrestricted free agent.

Reported by ESPN.com news services

Clippers interested in J.J. Redick

Any player that can make it rain from outside is worth adding to an NBA roster. One such talent is shooting guard J. J. Redick. A guy who can really shoot.

Unrestricted free agent J.J. Redick is being pursued by several teams, according to media reports.

And one of those teams with serious interest, according to ESPN.com and the Los Angeles Times, is the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers have agreed to a maximum contract with starting point guard Chris Paul and are looking for shooters to complement him in the backcourt. Redick, acquired by the Bucks at the trade deadline in February, is one of the top shooters on the free-agent market.

Yahoo Sports reported that Redick met with Clippers coach Doc Rivers on Monday night.

Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Blog)

Stoudemire may continue to play with a minutes limit

The idea of Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire dominating the league together was a good one. But unfortunately, injuries have reduced Stoudemire to a very expensive supporting player, and one that may continued to see a minutes limit. Here’s the New York Post:

With 7-foot power forward Andrea Bargnani officially coming aboard July 10, the Knicks have had renewed discussions on a stricter minutes restriction next season for Amar’e Stoudemire, according to his agent, Happy Walters.

The idea of a 20-minute nightly maximum with a prohibition on playing both ends of back-to-backs has been one of the ideas that has been discussed.

“I don’t think anything has been decided,’’ Walters told The Post yesterday. “The doctors are still talking about that. But he’s not going to play a ton of minutes.’’

An extra-cautious approach on Stoudemire to have him on a minutes restriction lower than last season’s was a factor in the Knicks’ willingness to trade for Bargnani, feeling they needed another scoring big man. The Knicks played 18 back-to-backs last season, so that could potentially be 18 games Stoudemire misses. It’s not all that dissimilar to the Spurs’ treatment of the aging Tim Duncan.

Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Tyreke Evans plans to meet with Hawks

Is Tyreke Evans starter-worthy in the NBA? Or would he be better as a sixth man? Ponder that as you read the latest free agency report regarding Evans:

After meeting with the Kings and Detroit Pistons Monday, Kings restricted free agent guard Tyreke Evans plans to meet with the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Evans has a four-year offer worth at least $44 million from the New Orleans Pelicans that he has not agreed to accept. Should Evans accept the offer and sign an offer sheet July 10 when the league moratorium on deals ends, the Kings would have three days to match the offer.

If the Kings do not match the offer they would lose Evans without compensation.

Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee (Blog)