The Philadelphia Inquirer (Joe Juliano) reports: With more than $11 million in salary-cap space available, the 76ers dove into free agency shortly after the bell rang at 12:01 a.m. yesterday and targeted Josh Smith, the young and talented forward of the Atlanta Hawks, as their primary prospect, but not their only one. The 6-foot-9 Smith, a restricted free agent, was contacted by the Sixers almost immediately. A team spokesman said Smith and his representatives planned to meet today with president and general manager Ed Stefanski. The spokesman also said the Sixers contacted Smith’s teammate, 6-8 forward Josh Childress, yesterday and expect to bring him to Philadelphia, but did not say when.
Bobcats let Othella Harrington go
The Charlotte Observer reports: The Bobcats’ decision not to exercise an option on forward Othella Harrington for next season will save the team about $2.55million in player payroll. A chronic knee injury limited Harrington to 22 game appearances last season. Harrington was signed as a free agent in the summer of 2006 to add experience and defense at power forward. R.B.
Gerald Green to Mavs
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Jeff Caplan) reports: Gerald Green, a former high school prodigy out of Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks, Green’s agent Colin Bryant said. A first round pick of the Boston Celtics in 2005, the slender, 6-foot-8 Green was part of the trade that sent Kevin Garnett from Minnesota to Boston. The Timberwolves traded Green to Houston last season. He played in one game for his hometown team before being released. Bryant was on his way to Dallas on Wednesday morning to work out the specifics of the deal.
Jose Calderon staying with Raptors
The Toronto Sun (Ryan Wolstat) reports: Not many doubts remained after the Raptors traded T.J. Ford to the Indiana Pacers last week, but Jose Calderon confirmed the expected yesterday, when he inferred on his website that he will be the Raptors’ starter at point guard for years to come. “Early this morning, through my agents, I reached a preliminary agreement with the Toronto Raptors,” Calderon wrote… Contractual details will be officially released July 9th, but the expected terms are around five years at $7.5-8.5 million US a season.
Del Harris to be Bulls assistant coach
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Jeff Caplan) reports: Longtime Mavs assistant coach Del Harris, who most recently served as a team consultant, is leaving the organization to join the staff of first-time head coach Vinny Del Negro with the Chicago Bulls.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Fantastic hire by the Bulls, adding an extremely well-known veteran coach to help guide Del Negro. Of course, one wonders if it should be the other way around, Harris getting the head coaching job while Del Negro learns the ropes under him and gets good experience before leading a team himself. That’s what I would probably have done. But then again, I don’t know Del Negro’s basketball mind. Maybe he’s brilliant.
OJ Mayo helping Grizzlies ticket sales
The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Jim Masilak) reports: Excitement over the draft-night deal that brought guard O.J. Mayo to Memphis is palpable at FedExForum, where skeptical season-ticket holders are signaling their approval by re-upping for the 2008-09 season. “I’ve been here since the start,” said Dennis O’Connor, the Grizzlies’ vice president of ticket sales and service. “There has been more excitement stemming from draft night on the business side than in any year since I’ve been here.” As Grizzlies fans know all too well after back-to-back 22-60 seasons, excitement has been in pretty short supply at FedExForum. Although the emergence of second-year forward Rudy Gay provided a glint of hope, it has been dimmed by the team’s inability to find a bona fide star attraction.
Elbow to chest ends first Beasley practice early
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports: Michael Beasley’s Miami Heat debut was cut short when the No. 2 pick in last week’s NBA Draft was sidelined by an elbow to the chest just over a half hour into the team’s first practice at summer camp. Beasley was not available for comment after today’s session at AmericanAirlines Arena. Coach Erik Spoelstra believed the elbow came from free-agent Anthony Washington, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center out of Portland State.
Warriors chase Elton Brand
The San Francisco Chronicle (Janny Hu) reports on her blog: Flush with cap space after Davis’ sudden exit, the Warriors have offered free agent Elton Brand a five-year deal worth between $85 and $90 million, according to league source. Brand, like Davis, opted out of the final year of his contract just before Monday’s deadline, giving up a guaranteed $16.4 million for next season. At the time, Brand’s agent, David Falk, told reporters that the move was designed to create some cap flexibility for the Clippers to add another top-line player.
InsideHoops.com editor says: I think both Baron and Elton want to be in Los Angeles, to play together but also to further their careers in the movie industry, which can obviously be done easier as long as they are based near Hollywood. On the other hand, if Brand can make an extra $20 million playing for the Warriors, that money goes a long way.
Lakers chasing Marcelus Kemp
The Los Angeles Daily News (Elliot Teaford) reports: The Lakers are pursuing Marcelus Kemp, a shooting guard from the University of Nevada. Kemp’s agent, John Grieg, told a Reno newspaper he expected a deal to be struck soon.
InsideHoops.com says: Why do the Lakers always go after such low-profile free agents? They need James Posey, not Marcelus Kemp.
Earl Watson breaks right thumb
Seattle SuperSonics general manager Sam Presti announced today that guard Earl Watson suffered a fracture of the right thumb while preparing for the upcoming season in a basketball game in Los Angeles. The injury has a typical recovery period of three to four months. Watson is scheduled to have surgery on Thursday, July 3 in Los Angeles.
“We are confident Earl will work hard towards a healthy and timely recovery and look forward to getting him back on the court,” Presti said.
Last season, Watson averaged career highs in points (10.7), assists (6.8), rebounds (2.9) and minutes (29.1). Over his seven-year NBA career, Watson has averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.5 apg and 2.2 rpg in 529 games.