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Phoenix Suns meeting with Michael Beasley, Raymond Felton

Suns to meet with Michael Beasley, Raymond Felton

The Phoenix Suns apparently are envisioning a lineup for next season that looks something like this: Raymond Felton, Eric Gordon, Michael Beasley, Channing Frye/Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat.

That is what you would have to take from the Suns’ hope to find agreeable contract terms today with Beasley during his Valley visit. Beasley’s visit comes two days after the Suns met Beasley in Los Angeles, a day after Gordon’s commitment to sign a four-year, $58 million offer sheet and the day before Felton visits in search of his fifth team in four seasons.

Beasley, 23, is also getting interest from Detroit but wants to come to Phoenix. A source said his agent, Jeff Schwartz, feels like Suns coach Alvin Gentry would be as good of a fit for Beasley as he was for Lamar Odom, when he was an immature, inconsistent young player for Gentry’s Clippers.

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

No Heat qualifying offer for Terrel Harris

A week ago, on the eve of free agency, Miami Heat President Pat Riley spoke of the hopes his team had for Heat free-agent guard Terrel Harris.

“We like him,” he said. “We like him a lot.”

And then something rather curious happened: nothing.

The Sun Sentinel has learned that the Heat bypassed extending a qualifying offer to the seldom-used rookie guard, leaving him an unrestricted free agent instead of a restricted free agent. As a result, the Heat do not maintain the right to match outside offers.

While Harris is expected to work with the team this summer, several factors in the new collective-bargaining agreement worked against Harris when it came to a qualifying offer.

— Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Celtics close to adding Jason Terry

If Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge left any question about his desire to compete for a title next season, he eliminated such uncertainty Tuesday when the team agreed to terms on a three-year contract with veteran sharpshooter Jason Terry, according to an NBA source.

Terry, 34, played the past eight seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, establishing himself as one of the game’s top sixth men. He averaged 15.1 points this season in 31.7 minutes per game, shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range.

When asked if he will sign with the Celtics, Terry responded “strong possibility” via text message.

Terry, who officially can sign a contract July 11, will sign for the full mid-level exception that begins at $5 million per season. The Mavericks, according to the source, offered Terry more money per season to return but only a two-year deal.

— Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe

Nets sell 500 season tickets on Tuesday, before D-Will decision

Even before Deron Williams announced his decision on Twitter early Tuesday evening, the Nets had put together a terrific day at the box office.

“We sold approximately 500 full season seats today, and obviously it was a seven figure day for us in revenue,” Nets CEO Brett Yormark said shortly before Williams made his announcement. “It’s a great day. The fans in Brooklyn are excited about the possibilities.

“I think we are hitting our stride now, and I would hope this momentum will continue, and I anticipate it will.”

Tuesday’s success, both at the box office and with the signing of Williams, continues what has been an impressive run since the team officially was unveiled as the Brooklyn Nets within the shadow of their new arena, Barclays Center, on April 30.

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (Blog)

Knicks working with Suns on Steve Nash sign-and-trade

Steve Nash could be headed for a reunion with Amar’e Stoudemire as the Knicks and Phoenix Suns continue working on a sign-and-trade for the two time MVP point guard.

The proposed deal would include Iman Shumpert, a player the Knicks are reluctant to part with, as well as Toney Douglas and at least two other players. The trade is necessary in order for the Knicks to give Nash a contract comparable to the three-year, $36 million offer he received from the Toronto Raptors.

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Ray Allen to meet with Heat on Thursday

Boston shooting guard Ray Allen, the Heat’s top target in free agency, will meet with Heat officials in Miami on Thursday as he continues to consider offers from the Heat, Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers.

Allen will visit the Clippers on Friday. As of Tuesday afternoon, he had not booked visits with his other suitors, including Memphis and Minnesota.

The Celtics reportedly have offered Allen $12 million over two years. The Heat can offer no more than $3.1 million per season over three years because teams that are above the luxury tax threshold have only a mini-mid level exception. The Clippers, who have a full mid-level exception, can offer $5 million annually over three years.

— Reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald

Lakers have interest in Steve Nash

While the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks have made strong pushes for free agent guard Steve Nash, the Los Angeles Lakers have, quietly, entered the fray for the 38-year-old guard and are making a strong bid to acquire him, according to a league source.

The Lakers, with a payroll already projected in excess of $83 million next season, would only be able to offer Nash an exception starting at $3.09 million for next season. It’s unlikely Nash would take that, so a sign-and-trade deal would be a more realistic possibility.

The Lakers do have a viable starting point guard they could send Phoenix in such a deal, Ramon Sessions, who became an unrestricted free agent after surprisingly opting out of the last year of his contract. Forwards Jordan Hill and Matt Barnes are also free agents.

— Reported by David Aldridge of the NBA.com Hangtime Blog
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/07/03/lakers-enter-fray-for-steve-nash/

Eric Gordon will sign Phoenix Suns offer sheet

Restricted free agent guard Eric Gordon has agreed to a four-year deal with the Phoenix Suns worth about $58 million, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The New Orleans Hornets have the right to match the deal and keep Gordon.

Gordon was in Phoenix on Tuesday, meeting with the Suns’ front office. The agreement to the offer sheet was confirmed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because free agent acquisitions can’t be revealed publicly until next week, according to NBA rules.

The Suns also have had meetings this week with forward Michael Beasley and guard Goran Dragic as they prepare for life after Steve Nash.

There have been several sign-and-trade speculations regarding Nash, who is an unrestricted free agent who seems ever more unlikely to return to Phoenix.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Gloomy outlook for new Sacramento arena plans

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson’s ”Plan B” to build a new sports arena is dead.

The second option for a new arena for the Sacramento Kings -or any other professional sports tenant – never really took shape. Johnson said Tuesday that the city and arena operator AEG have concluded that the financial model is not viable for the region without an anchor sports tenant.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Lamar Odom withdraws from 2012 USA Basketball National Team

The following has been known for days, but just became official today:

Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Clippers) has informed USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo and USA Basketball Men’s National Team head coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will be unavailable to play for the USA Basketball National Team this summer.

“Lamar has told us that he is unable to play for the United States this summer. While it is unfortunate to have lost the players we have, Coach Krzyzewski and I remain extremely confident with the group of players we’ll have at our training camp in Las Vegas. We believe that we will still have an outstanding collection of talent and that ultimately we will have another team that all Americans will be excited about and proud of,” said Colangelo.

The 15 USA finalists will assemble July 5 in Las Vegas, Nev., for the start of the 2012 USA National Team training. The USA’s 12-man roster will be announced after the team’s practice on July 7. Finalists contending for a roster spot include: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).