Mike Bibby reaches out to 76ers

The Philadelphia Daily News (Phil Jasner) reports (via blog): The 76ers received an inquiry from the agent for Atlanta Hawks free agent guard Mike Bibby, but a source familiar with the situation said the conversation ”didn’t go anywhere.” The theory seemed to be that the agent waqs doing his due diligence, checking the market for his client. Bibby was listed on the Hawks’ salary cap last season at more than $14.98 million, but is more likely to play the coming season for something in the range of the $5.6 million mid-level exception.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I haven’t heard much about Bibby and the Hawks in free agency yet. It doesn’t sound like Atlanta plan on making any dramatic changes.

Phil Jackson probably returning for Lakers

ESPN.com reports: The Los Angeles Lakers’ commitment to sign the mercurial Ron Artest would appear to make retaining Phil Jackson even more imperative than the team believed when the NBA’s free-agent period began. It shouldn’t be a topic of discussion much longer. Jackson’s presence on the bench next season, according to one NBA coaching source, is “99.9 percent” assured, with another source indicating that Jackson’s return will be publicly confirmed by the Lakers by early next week at the latest.

Ron Artest signs with Lakers

Ron Artest to sign with Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent forward Ron Artest, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Artest, a 6’7” 260-pound forward out of St. John’s University, has averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.06 steals in 604 career games (562 starts) during his 10 NBA seasons with Chicago, Indiana, Sacramento and Houston.   Originally selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, Artest is one of only three players in NBA history to post career averages of 16+ points, 5+ rebounds, 3+ assists and 2+ steals (Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler).

The 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Artest has been named NBA All-Defensive First Team twice (2004, 2006) and Second Team twice (2003, 2009).  A member of the 2004 Eastern Conference All-Star team, Artest also earned All-NBA Third Team honors in 2004 and has finished among the top three league leaders in steals five of the last eight seasons while leading his team in steals in nine of his 10 NBA seasons overall.

In 2008-09, Artest averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.52 steals in 69 games (55 starts) with Houston while setting single-season career-highs in  3-point field goals made and attempted (.399, 153-383 3FG) and leading the Rockets in steals (105).

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INITIAL RON ARTEST LAKERS SIGNING UPDATE

By Jeff Lenchiner, editor of InsideHoops.com

Houston Rockets free agent forward Ron Artest is going to sign with the 2008-09 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.

The negotiation period for NBA free agents began July 1. Actual signings can take place starting July 8.

According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, the deal may be for three years and around $18 million.

As the Lakers add Artest it appears they will be losing energy hustle guy Trevor Ariza, who is reportedly going to sign with the Houston Rockets.

The addition of Artest to the current NBA champions is interesting. He helps in some ways, but doesn’t in others. He won’t replace the hectic, frantic, fill-in-the-blanks, complimentary, fast break style of Ariza, but is a better halfcourt defender. Artest is also much stronger than Ariza and can easily play power forward for long stretches.

Overall, Ron is definitely better than Trevor.

I question how well Artest will fit into the triangle offense of the Lakers, however. He can do it, but it’s not the most natural fit.

Ariza last season  averaged just 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, shooting 46% but just 31.9% from three-point range. Though, in the playoffs he suddenly became an assassin from outside, nailing 47.6% of his threes.

Artest last season for the Rockets put up 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game, though he shot an awful 40.1%. He was nice from three-point range, though, hitting 39.9%.

Overall, adding Artest while losing Ariza is an upgrade for the Lakers, though I’ll still keep my eye on how well Artest fits in with their offense.

And, key Lakers forward Lamar Odom is currently a free agent. The team needs to keep Odom, and a source says the team feels they’ll be able to re-sign him.

Read basketball fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Shaq sells Miami house

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sarah Talalay) reports: Former Heat center Shaquille O’Neal finally unloaded his Star Island home on Wednesday, a day before he was traded from Phoenix to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Philip Freedman, a broker with Flagstone Realty, said the deal to sell the 2.5 acre property at 26 Star Island Drive closed Wednesday. The home sold for $16 million, far below the $18.8 million O’Neal paid for the mansion in 2004 and the $32 million he was seeking for the home in 2005. He was reportedly asking $22.5 million, but couldn’t get nearly that much in this economic climate.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Shaq sold his home for a bit less than I recent spent on one of my new summer houses.

Allen Iverson likes Grizzlies

Allen Iverson likes Grizzlies

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: Several NBA sources have confirmed to me that controversial and wildly popular guard Allen Iverson – through representatives – has made the Grizzlies aware that he would like to play in Memphis. The veteran, prolific scorer is a free agent for the first time in his professional career. While no deal is imminent and conversations have been only cursory, Griz brass are said to be internally weighing the pros and cons of possibly adding Iverson to the team’s youth movement. Iverson would certainly have to take a major pay cut from the $21 million he earned last season with Detroit. The Griz would only entertain Iverson with what they’d deem a reasonable price, and if the 34-year-old agreed to play off the bench.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Adding Iverson would spark some team interest, ticket sales and maybe a few wins for the Grizzlies, but not really accomplish much more than that. It would probably wouldn’t help the development of the young players Memphis is actually building around. Adding Iverson would be a small temporary boost.

Ron Artest may be gone from Rockets

Ron Artest may be gone from Rockets

Houston Rockets forward Ron Artest is a free agent, and many teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, are interested in his services. The Cleveland Plain Dealer earlier Wednesday reported that the Cavs, with help from LeBron James, spoke to Artest about joining the team in the past day.

Artest on Twitter at around 10:05 p.m. ET Wednesday posted the following message: THANKS A LOT HOUSTON. :) I HAD A LOT OF FUN :)

This obviously suggests that Artest expects to sign with another NBA team.

UPDATE: Artest went on a Sacramento radio station late Wednesday night and said he’s basically just messing around on Twitter and not being serious. So, maybe he’s kidding with what he said above, maybe not.

Clippers trade Zach Randolph for Quentin Richardson

The Los Angeles Times reports: Clearing the way for No. 1 pick Blake Griffin, the Clippers have agreed to trade power forward Zach Randolph to Memphis for former Clipper Quentin Richardson, The Times learned today. Because of salary-cap rules, the deal can’t be completed until next week… With Richardson under contract for only this season, the deal gets them out from under Randolph’s contract, which has two seasons, worth $33.3 million left on it.

JULY 17 UPDATE: TRADE IS OFFICIAL

The Memphis Grizzlies acquired power forward Zach Randolph from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard/forward Quentin Richardson, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“We are pleased to acquire a player of Zach Randolph’s caliber,” Wallace said. “Zach is one of the best low-post scorers in the league and a force on the boards as well.  He will also bring much-needed experience to the team.”

The 6-9, 260-pounder averaged 20.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and shot 47.5 percent from the field over 35.1 minutes in 50 games (45 starts) last season with the Knicks and Clippers.  The 27-year-old was one of four players in 2008-09 to average over 20 points and 10 rebounds, joining Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Al Jefferson.

It marked the third 20-10 campaign in eight NBA seasons for Randolph, who has recorded 19.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in 388 games (368 starts) since becoming a full-time starter (2003-09).  In the Grizzlies’ 14-year history, only Shareef Abdur-Rahim has posted a 20-10 season (20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds in 1999-00).

The winner of the NBA’s 2003-04 Most Improved Player Award has averaged 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 30.0 minutes on 46.6 percent shooting in 506 games (379 starts) in eight NBA seasons with the Clippers, the New York Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers.

Randolph, who was previously acquired along with Mardy Collins by the Clippers from the Knicks on Nov. 21, 2008 in exchange for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas, is one of only five players to average at least 17 points and eight rebounds in each of the last six seasons (Tim Duncan, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol).  He’s averaged a double-double in each of the past three seasons, despite playing for three different teams, and has recorded 191 double-doubles since the 2003-04 season (eighth among NBA players during that span).

The Marion, Ind. native was originally selected with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Trail Blazers after his freshman season at Michigan State University.  Randolph, nicknamed “Z-Bo,” scored a career-high 43 points on March 29, 2007 vs. Memphis as a member of the Trail Blazers.

Richardson was acquired by the Grizzlies from the Knicks on draft night (June 25, 2009) in exchange for center Darko Milicic.  The 6-6, 235-pound swingman averaged 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 72 games (51 starts) last season, his fourth with the Knicks.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Richardson holds career averages of 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 601 games (390 starts) with the Knicks, the Phoenix Suns and the Clippers, who originally selected him with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft.

Detroit Pistons to sign Charlie Villanueva

Detroit Pistons to sign Charlie Villanueva

The AP reports: A person with the knowledge of the negotiations says the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle to contracts with free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva… Villanueva, the seventh overall pick by Toronto in 2005 who has played the last three of his NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks, also agreed to a five-year deal. His contract is worth at least $35 million. Villanueva averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Bucks.

InsideHoops.com editor says: The Pistons have a hole at the power forward position, and Villanueva should fill it as a starter, probably immediately.

Detroit Pistons coaching search

The AP reports: The Detroit Pistons don’t plan to wait long to name a replacement for fired coach Michael Curry. Joe Dumars, the Pistons’ president for basketball operations, doesn’t have a “complete list” of candidates but wants to act in less than a week, before next Tuesday’s opening practice for the NBA developmental league. “My goal is to have a head coach in place by the time we go out to Las Vegas,” Dumars said in a video posted on the team’s Web site. The NBA Summer League runs July 10-19.

Report: Detroit Pistons, Ben Gordon agree to deal

Detroit Pistons, Ben Gordon agree to deal

The Detroit Pistons already have a great shooting guard in Richard Hamilton and a decent young guard in Rodney Stuckey, but they’re reportedly about to add some potent scoring ability to their backcourt.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo reports that, according to a source, the team has reached an agreement with free-agent guard Ben Gordon on a five-year contract worth around $55 million.

Last season Gordon averaged 20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 45.5% shooting (41.0% three-pointers) per game for the Bulls. He’s played for Chicago since entering the NBA in the 2004-05 season.

If the Pistons were to play small-ball, with Stuckey at point, Gordon at shooting guard and Hamilton at small forward, it would be one of the most undersized lineups in the league. Gordon is very strong, but has the height of a point guard. Hamilton is a very thin two-guard. So should the team put Gordon at the point, even though he’s definitely not a true floor general?

It’s also possible that Gordon is used as a scorer off the bench, similarly to how the Chicago Bulls used him for much of his time there. But generally, when a team pays a player $11 million per season, they expect the player to start.

Tough to say how Gordon will fit next to Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.

The team is reportedly also trying to add free agent power forward Charlie Villanueva, among others.

More tonight.