NBA Free Agency Rumors 6/30/12
11:58 p.m. Eastern
-The Nets, Celtics, Pacers and Suns are interested in O.J. Mayo, Ken Berger says.
-Houston will meet Omer Asik at 12:01.
11:40 p.m. Eastern
-Brandon Roy met with Minnesota on Friday and will meet with the Bulls, Mavericks, Pacers and Warriors according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
11:25 p.m. Eastern
-The Nets-Rockets trade talks for Luis Scola were put on hold but could be revived, Ken Berger reports.
-Dwight Howard knows he probably won’t be traded to the Nets, says Alex Kennedy.
11:15 p.m. Eastern
-Brooklyn offered expiring contracts and draft picks to Houston for Luis Scola but it did not work out, Adrian Wojnarowksi reports. The Nets will also go hard after O.J. Mayo. The Nets are reportedly losing hope they can get Dwight Howard, Wojnarowski says.
11:10 p.m. Eastern
-Brooklyn and Houston were in deep discussions on a trade for Luis Scola but the talks fell apart, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
-Indiana will make its pitch to restricted free agent Roy Hibbert tonight, according to Mike Wells.
10:45 p.m. Eastern
-Dwight Howard has told new Orlando GM Rob Hennigan that he wants a trade to the Nets, Chris Broussard reports.
-Minnesota will meet with Brandon Roy and offered Derrick Williams, Luke Ridnour and another piece to the Lakers for Pau Gasol, Peter Vescey reports. That trade is not expected to happen. Ken Berger also says the Lakers are pursuing trade options with Gasol but nothing is imminent.
10:30 p.m. Eastern
-The Hawks and Nets are not close to a Joe Johnson trade, Adrian Wojnarowski reports, but Brooklyn would have to do a sign-and-trade with one of their free agents along with the contracts of Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro and Anthony Morrow. A deal would probably not be done without the assurance from Deron Williams that he would stay.
10:15 p.m. Eastern
-Scott Brooks and the Thunder have agreed to a four-year contract extension, David Aldridge reports.
10:10 p.m. Eastern
-In an effort to entice Deron Williams to stay with the Nets, Brooklyn is in trade talks with Atlanta on Joe Johnson, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
-Williams told ESPN’s Chris Broussard that he will meet with both the Nets and Mavericks on Monday and is leaning towards one of the teams.
-Blake Griffin will sign a five-year contract extension with the Clippers this month.
-The Knicks, Heat, Pacers, Raptors and Suns will offer a contract to Steve Nash on Sunday according to David Aldridge.
-Kevin Garnett will stay with the Boston Celtics, ESPN reports.
2012 NBA Mock Draft
We all know mock drafts are a terribly inexact science, but there is a demand for them so that demand will now be met with supply. This mock draft will be without trades or other stipulations, just the picks as if there was not going to be any movement.
1) New Orleans- Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
2) Charlotte- Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
3) Washington- Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
4) Cleveland- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
5) Sacramento- Harrison Barnes, PF, North Carolina
6) Portland- Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
7) Golden State- Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
8) Toronto- Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
9) Detroit- Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut
10) New Orleans- Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
11) Portland- John Henson, SF, North Carolina
12) Houston- Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
13) Phoenix- Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
14) Milwaukee- Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
15) Philadelphia- Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
16) Houston- Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
17) Dallas- Royce White, SF, Iowa State
18) Houston- Moe Harkless, SF, St. John’s
19) Orlando- Perry Jones, PF, Baylor
20) Denver- Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
21) Boston- Jared Sullinger, C, Ohio State
22) Boston- Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
23) Atlanta- Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
24) Cleveland- Evan Fournier, SF, Portiers
25) Memphis- John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
26) Indiana- Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
27) Miami- Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
28) Oklahoma City- Tony Wroten, SG, Washington
29) Chicago- Tyshaun Taylor, PG, Kansas
30) Golden State- Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky.
NBA Draft Rumors 6/28/12- Draft Day
4:45 p.m. Eastern
-If Thomas Robinson isn’t available with the 5th pick, the Kings would probably trade it to Houston for Kyle Lowry and a couple of picks, ESPN reports. The Rockets would then take Andre Drummond and offer him as part of a package to Orlando for Dwight Howard.
3 p.m. Eastern
-There’s a growing expectation that the Bobcats trade the second overall pick, says Chris Mannix.
-Atlanta is resisting a Josh Smith trade for now, says Marc Stein. Orlando wants to pair him with Dwight Howard. Boston, Houston and the Lakers are interested with Pau Gasol a piece that would potentially head to the Hawks.
-Utah could be the third team in the Mavericks-Clippers Lamar Odom swap, ESPN reports, with Mo Williams possibly headed to the Jazz. It depends if Mo Williams would exercise his player option and suit up for the Jazz.
-Golden State has interest in DeJuan Blair, says DraftExpress.
-Two sources confirm that Jared Sullinger won’t go in the top 20.
-Darius Johnson-Odom may not last to the Knicks at 48.
2 p.m. Eastern
-Oklahoma City wants to take Bradley Beal and trade for the second pick, but Alex Kennedy reports that Charlotte is asking for James Harden in return.
-Portland is leaning towards Damian Lillard over Dion Waiters with the sixth pick because they’re afraid Toronto would take him at eight, Brian Smith reports. Utah has been unsuccessful in trying to move up.
-Sacramento is high on Harrison Barnes, Marc Spears says.
-Chicago will take Tyshaun Taylor 29th.
12:25 p.m. Eastern
-Cleveland has Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes atop their list and not Dion Waiters or Terrence Ross, Chad Ford reports. Cleveland also has interest in Turkish star Furkan Aldemir, even though he won’t come to the NBA for a couple of years, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
-DraftExpress reports that the Bobcats rejected an offer of the 2nd pick for Minnesota’s Derrick Williams.
-Sacramento won’t consider trading the 5th pick until they see who’s available tonight, says Marc Spears. Golden State will keep the 7th pick.
-San Antonio is shopping DeJuan Blair, Wojnarowski says.
11 a.m. Eastern
-More from Adrian Wojnarowski: Greek F Kostas Papanikolau could go to Miami or Oklahoma City towards the end of the first round. The Thunder could also take Kentucky’s Doron Lamb. *Andrew Nicholson won’t go past Boston at 21 and 22 and could go to Houston (12, 16, 18) or Denver (20). Boston is also looking to move into the late lottery with 21 and 22. *Cleveland could take Bernard James 33rd or 34th and Memphis could take Tony Wroten 25th.
10 a.m. Eastern
-Thomas Robinson thinks he’ll go with the second pick to the Bobcats but nobody is entirely sure. David Aldridge reports that the Bobcats are weighing five legit offers.
-Cleveland is very intrigued with Dion Waiters, and Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Cavs could take him fourth overall if they can’t get Bradley Beal. They may prefer him to Robinson. Charlotte has insisted the Cavs take on the contract of Tyrus Thomas in any trade as of now. Toronto is trying to trade up with Golden State at seven to grab Waiters, but the Warriors like him also.
-Matt Steinmetz thinks the Warriors won’t take Andre Drummond if he lasts to seven. On the other hand, Detroit would take Drummond at nine, says Chad Ford.
-Perry Jones’ knee issue could see him slide this evening, says Chad Ford.
-Is Memphis offering Zack Randolph for Pau Gasol? Peter Vescey says yes. Memphis would like John Jenkins or Royce White at 25, and the former is actually realistic. Alex Kennedy reports that the Lakers will continue to shop Gasol.
-Darius Johnson-Odom, Hollis Thompson and Kevin Murphy are in play for the Knicks at 48. The Knicks could also trade Toney Douglas this evening, Newsday says.
Rockets Get 12th Pick From Milwaukee In Deal Including Samuel Dalembert
Houston has traded Samuel Dalembert and the 14th pick to Milwaukee for the 12th pick and big men Jon Brockman and Jon Leuer, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets will also get G Shaun Livingston in the trade, Wojnarowski says.
The deal gives the Rockets more cap space and more ammunition to trade up, considering they have a slightly higher pick. Houston has been known to have interest in the 2nd, 5th and 8th picks.
NBA Draft Rumors 6/27/12
Early Draft Intrigue With Bobcats, Wizards, Cavs
If Charlotte doesn’t trade the second pick, Thomas Robinson is confident he will be the selection. This conviction was likely boosted by their acquisition of Ben Gordon and a future first round pick from Detroit in exchange for Ben Gordon. It probably means they won’t take Bradley Beal second overall, and perhaps it leads them to taking Harrison Barnes or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
Charlotte may have to rethink trading that second pick because it seems like Washington is shopping the third pick to teams interested in taking Robinson. This could be a good leverage play for the Wizards, who may prefer Beal anyway. The Bobcats are considering sending the second pick to the Cavs for the 4th pick and either the 24th or one of Cleveland’s early second round selections. Charlotte has also been asking teams looking for the second pick to take on the contract of Tyrus Thomas.
Odom To Clippers?
The Los Angeles Clippers are in discussions to acquire forward Lamar Odom from Dallas, Marc Stein reports. The deal could center around a third team’s willingness to take Mo Williams’ contract. Ironically, a team willing to do just that is the Lakers, who have the trade exception from Odom’s original trade to the Mavericks.
Rumors
-The Lakers are open to trading Pau Gasol for a high draft pick, says Marc Spears, but nothing is imminent.
-The fifth and eighth picks are generating the most buzz, says Marc Stein.
-Denver has gotten a lot of trade calls and Chris Broussard reports that the Nuggets could send Wilson Chandler to Golden State for the 7th pick. Denver would need more than that, so a trade is probably unlikely.
-It’s possible that Austin Rivers goes as high as sixth to Portland, with Harrison Barnes slipping to 7th or 8th, says Tim Kawakami. Rick Bonnell also says that Barnes is slipping and Golden State would take Andre Drummond with the 7th pick.
-Milwaukee is looking to move into the top 10 to take John Henson, says Alex Kennedy. Houston also wants to get into the top 10 and a deal with the Hornets for the 10th pick didn’t work out.
-As many as nine first-round picks have been medically red-flagged, according to DraftExpress. That includes Jared Sullinger.
-Cleveland has interest in Waiters and Terrence Ross but may not be in the best positions to select them.
-Boston has not made a promise to Royce White and are considering trading from 21 or 22.
-The Lakers and Nets are looking to trade into the first round, says Alex Kennedy.
-Check out Jon Rothstein’s five draft sleepers.

