NBA News: Pro Sports Daily

Pistons reach deals with Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva

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July 2

Detroit News

"The Pistons have reached agreements with free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. The Pistons offered Gordon, a guard, a five-year deal worth more than $50 million. According to sources on both sides, Gordon accepted the parameters of the deal. Villanueva agreed to a five-year $35 million deal. No deals can be signed until July 8. Gordon and Charlie Villanueva showed up at the practice facility Wednesday to meet with president Joe Dumars. Both players, teammates on the 2003-04 Connecticut team, were the top free-agent targets for the Pistons. Gordon, 26, averaged 20.7 points for the Bulls last season, and was brilliant in the seven-game playoff series against the Celtics, averaging ..."

Clippers to trade Zach Randolph for Quentin Richardson

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July 2

Los Angeles Times

"Zach, we hardly knew ye. Having become the all-time leading Los Angeles Clippers scorer in his 39 games with the team, Zach Randolph was packaged for delivery to Memphis on Wednesday when the teams agreed to a deal that will bring back former Clipper Quentin Richardson, and open a starting spot for rookie Blake Griffin. Because of salary cap rules, the deal can't be completed until next week. A Clippers spokesman had no comment. Randolph, a low-post scoring machine, averaged 20.9 points a game in his short stint here, eclipsing Elton Brand's Los Angeles Clippers career mark of 20.3. Randolph arrived three weeks into the season in a trade with the Knicks, and was a core part of their plans ..."

Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly make a play for Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza

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July 2

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Two players who didn't seem like they were going to be available to the Cavaliers ended up in the team's crosshairs at the end of day one of the NBA free-agency period. According to several league sources, the Cavs are attempting to land Houston Rockets free-agent forward Ron Artest, and the pitch included a meeting with LeBron James on Tuesday night in Los Angeles as both were in Southern California for various events. In addition, a league source indicated the team is trying to attract Los Angeles Lakers swingman Trevor Ariza, who appears to be disgruntled with the Lakers' early attempts to re-sign him. Ariza's agent, David Lee, told the Riverside, Calif., Press-Enterprise Wednesday, ..."

Timberwolves' draft pick Ricky Rubio reportedly will stay in Spain for two years

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July 2

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Minnesota Timberwolves' top draft pick, Ricky Rubio, 18, will remain in Spain to play for his DKV Joventut basketball team for the remaining two years of his contract rather than try to move to the NBA this season, El Periodico reported today. The Barcelona newspaper also says Rubio, who was paid $97,000 last season, plans to withdraw his contract lawsuit against DKV Joventut."

Trevor Ariza talks with Rockets

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July 2

Los Angeles Times

"The Trevor Ariza NBA tour has officially begun. The Lakers' free-agent forward is meeting today in Las Vegas with Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey and Coach Rick Adelman, according to Ariza's agent. "They both flew in to meet him," agent David Lee said. Ariza has also had a discussion with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James about joining the Cavaliers."

Dallas Mavericks make offer to free-agent center Gortat

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July 2

Dallas Morning News

"The Dallas Mavericks have made an offer to Marcin Gortat, the 6-11 center from Poland who has become one of the hottest free agents in the NBA."

Lakers are far apart with free agents Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom

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July 2

Los Angeles Times

"The Lakers had a near-perfect June, breezing through the NBA Finals in five games and capping it off with a victory parade and championship rally under sunny Southern California skies. The first day of July, however, wasn't as picturesque. The Lakers remained far apart on negotiations Wednesday with their two main free-agent pieces, forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. In particular, Ariza and his agent weren't thrilled by the Lakers' annual offer of $5.6 million over an unspecified number of years. Ariza, 24, was hoping for $7 million to $8 million a year. Odom, 29, is believed to be seeking $10 million a year, though it was unclear what the Lakers offered him. Ariza's agent, David Lee, ..."

Artest mulling options in free agency

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July 2

San Antonio Express-News

"If LeBron James or Kobe Bryant are looking for a little help, Ron Artest is taking calls. The Rockets star forward, an unrestricted free agent, will consider a team's chances of winning an NBA championship when deciding where he'll bring his skills next season, his agent says. David Bauman said Wednesday that his client would like to return to Houston, but Artest would also think about signing with a contending team - and that might rule out the Rockets if Yao Ming's broken left foot keeps him out for the season. Bauman wouldn't say which teams have contacted him about Artest. But he said he would expect Artest to talk to James and Bryant if the Cavaliers or Los Angeles Lakers were ..."

Raps setting their sights on Knicks' big man Lee

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July 2

Toronto Star

"The Raptors are widening their NBA free-agent search that now includes one of the more intriguing players on the market. Capping a whirlwind 24 hours to open the negotiating period, league sources say Toronto is trying to obtain David Lee, an energetic rebounder who is a New York Knicks restricted free agent. The sources couldn't say whether the move on Lee would be a straight offer or whether it would be a sign-and-trade transaction with any of Toronto's current free agents. Lee's name is added to a list that began with Charlie Villanueva – who ultimately signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Detroit Pistons – and Denver's Linas Kleiza, a solid if unspectacular part not in the ..."

Shaquille O'Neal hints that his fun with the Cleveland Cavaliers could last beyond the 2009-10 season

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July 2

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"There was some laughter and fun this afternoon at Shaquille O'Neal's official introduction to Cleveland. With Shaq, there always is. But there was also plenty of business. Wearing a black suit with a pink shirt and pink tie, O'Neal wanted to make two points as he spoke to media, team personnel, children from St. Martin DePorres school and season ticket and suite holders. One was his intention to help the Cavaliers and his friend LeBron James win a championship next season. The other is he's still hoping to land a two-year contract extension. He made both points with his brand of humor with firmness. "My motto is simple," O'Neal said. "Win a Ring for the King." Then -- after showing a ..."

Spurs get in line to woo Wallace

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July 2

San Antonio Express-News

"The Spurs put in a call to representatives for Rasheed Wallace not long after NBA free agency opened at 11:01 on Tuesday night. Now, the wait is on. "There's interest, mutual interest, I would say," Wallace's agent, Bill Strickland, said Wednesday. "I would say the Spurs have a job to do." Wallace, considered to be the top free-agent target for a Spurs team in desperate search for a big man, fielded similar calls from Orlando, Cleveland, Boston and elsewhere in the first few minutes of free agency. All of the above teams, including the Spurs, can make Wallace approximately the same offer, a short-term deal starting at the mid-level exception, expected to be worth around $5.6 million. The ..."

Celtics to court Rasheed Wallace

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July 2

Boston Herald

"Danny Ainge kicked off free agency yesterday by targeting a player who reportedly is going to be very receptive to Celtics overtures - former Pistons center Rasheed Wallace. "We hope to meet with him soon," Ainge, the Celtics general manager, said last night, debunking an Internet report that team management already had met with Wallace on Tuesday night. Wallace, who also is expected to receive pitches from San Antonio and Cleveland, can expect a heavy recruiting effort from several members of the C's organization."

Grizz Out of David Lee Hunt; Knicks Targeting Hill

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July 2

New York Post

"On the first day of free-agency, the Knicks received good news on David Lee, bad news on Jason Kidd and OK news on their new target, forward Grant Hill. Lee's most ardent suitor, Memphis, is out of the picture after trading former Knick Quentin Richardson to the Clippers for former Knick Zach Randolph to fill its power-forward need. Meanwhile, Kidd met for more than two hours with coach Mike D'Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh yesterday at the Garden, but they remain heavy underdogs. Dallas owner Mark Cuban already is in negotiations with Kidd on a three-year deal reportedly worth $25 million. Instead, the Knicks will try to use their $5.7 million mid-level exception on Phoenix's ..."

Childress in play?

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July 2

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"From Athens to Milwaukee and back to Atlanta, the name Josh Childress is being tossed around in every direction these days. Childress is in Milwaukee today visiting the Bucks with his agent, Jim Tanner. What that means for the Hawks is that they might get a do-over with Childress, a restricted free agent again this summer as he was last summer. Last summer they lost him as an asset when he chose to sign with Greek power Olympiakos (for $20 million post taxes). What the Hawks didn't lose was the right of first refusal on Childress if he decided to return to the NBA this summer. And two of my spies have made it clear that were Childress to receive any sort of "reasonable" NBA offer (the $5.8 ..."

Cavs' Anderson Varejao to be free agent

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July 2

Akron Beacon Journal

"In a move that surprised no one, Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao opted out of the final year of his contract, one that would bring him about $6.2 million, to test the free-agent waters. Two seasons ago, Varejao and the Cavs were involved in a protracted contract dispute that strained the relationship between the sides. Any differences were eventually worked out and Varejao has said on more than one occasion during the past year that he wants to remain with the team. Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry has said Varejao remains a valued part of the organization. This season, Varejao had career highs in starts (42) and scoring (8.6 points per game), but he is recognized for the defensive ..."

Free-agent Miller not adjusting price for Sixers

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July 2

PhillyBurbs.com

"A struggling economy, teams gearing up for 2010 free agency and impending decreases in the NBA's salary cap and luxury-tax threshold resulted in the Jazz's Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur declining to opt out of their contracts Tuesday. Boozer and Okur, who had been expected to be in demand if they hit the free-agent market, didn't want to try it because they knew signing for less was quite possible under the circumstances. With that in mind, might Sixers' point guard Andre Miller, who became a free agent Wednesday, and agent Andy Miller (no relation) have to adjust what they want? The answer apparently is no. A three-year contract worth close to $30 million - the 33-year-old Miller made ..."

Victim's mom forgives Nuggets' J.R. Smith

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July 2

Denver Post

"Moments after J.R. Smith was sentenced to 30 days in jail, the mother of the man he accidentally killed in an auto accident approached Smith with tears in her eyes. She hugged him. Squeezed him. "I told him I loved him," Wanda Bell said. "And then I walked away." The emotions have overwhelmed Bell ever since the Nuggets guard's reckless driving killed her son, Andre, two summers ago. Andre Bell and Smith were tight. Naturally, Wanda Bell was devastated by the loss of her son. But her actions since have been amazing. She signed off for her son's organs to be donated. The man who received Andre's heart survived his near-death experience, and is now happy and healthy with his wife and three ..."

Mbenga, Powell will be returning to Lakers

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July 2

L.A. Daily News

"The Lakers let a deadline to terminate the second-year contracts of center DJ Mbenga and power forward Josh Powell pass without action Wednesday, meaning they'll be back with the team next season. Each player's deal is now worth a guaranteed $959,111 for 2009-10. Mbenga was the Lakers' third-string center last season, playing only 23 games and averaging 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds. He became a crowd favorite, however, with some fans sporting "Banging with Mbenga" T-shirts. Powell also served as a backup, averaging 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 60 games. He had one start, and made the most of it by scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the Lakers' March 11 win over the Houston ..."