NBA Free Agency Rumours – 2 July 2013
What a crazy first day we had of the NBA Free Agency hey?
It seemed that every hour, players were moving from one franchise to another. As is always the way the teams with the biggest cap space targeting the biggest names are waiting for that first domino to fall. So let’s take a look at the biggest rumours dominating the headlines on day two.
The Dwight Howard free agency tour takes its next stop today as franchises continue to pull out all the stops for the big-man. Howard today heads home to visit Atlanta who are thought to be the bottom on his list of potential suitors.
The offers continue to poor in for Howard as multiple sources reported a ‘sign-and-trade’ offer from the Golden State Warriors for Howard, which includes both Andrew Bogut and Klay Thompson. Howard worked out with stud guard Steph Curry yesterday at UCLA and is believed to be in favour of pairing up with 2013’s breakout star.
Howard’s non-decision continues to reverberate around the league as Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reported late last night that Houston have contacted free-agents Corey Brewer and Mike Dunleavy but will only sign the pair if they can persuade Superman to move to Texas.
Dunleavy himself has a decision to make as Yahoo! Sports claim the Chicago Bulls have offered him a $6m, 2-year, deal. However, all is not well in Chicago as ESPN claim there is a major rift about to break-out between GM Gar Foreman and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau over the decision not to resign assistant coach Ron Adams.
Elsewhere around the league, Milwaukee are doing all they can to squash ‘false reports’ that they will lose both Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings stating re-signing the 23-year-old PG to be their “main priority”. John Hammond the Milwaukee GM also claims Jennings has “expressed a desire to return”. The Bucks have been said to be making precautions however if Jennings does sign an offer-sheet they simply feel is too excessive, by reaching out to the Clippers over a possible trade for backup PG Eric Bledsoe. Rumours indicate the Bucks would be willing to part ways with J.J Redick in any potential swap.
League sources have confirmed Michael Jordan’s key priority is to bring in a scorer in the post, and that the Bobcats contacted free agent Al Jefferson shortly after the calendar turned to July 1st.
Jose Calderon continues to be overlooked on the free-agent market, including from his own team, as he claims to have had “little, to no contact” with the Pistons. Calderon is expected to move on this summer.
Finally, today’s biggest headline, the New Orleans Pelicans are signing current Sacramento Forward Tyreke Evans to a four-year $44m offer-sheet. However, due to NBA regulations Evans cannot sign the sheet until July 10th but is said to have agreed in principle to sign. He will meet the Kings and Pistons today.
