Pistons free agent center Greg Monroe said Sunday he will meet with five teams this week, including the Knicks, and said he wants to play for a club “ready to win.’’ He also seemed to be campaigning to stay in his hometown.
Monroe, who is from Louisiana, said at his basketball clinic in New Orleans he’s looking for a two-year deal with an opt-out after one season to take advantage of the coming rise of the salary cap.
According to the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate, Monroe will speak with the Knicks, Celtics, Bucks, and Blazers with the Pistons out of the picture. Free agency begins Wednesday.
“I’m looking to be with a team that’s ready to win,” Monroe told the newspaper. “Hopefully it will be a team where I’m the missing piece.”-NYPOST
Meanwhile, USA Today reports that the Mavericks, Lakers, and Knicks will join the Clippers in holding meetings with Jordan, while the Bucks unfortunately for the were unable to pique the big man's interest.
The 26-year-old free agent center who spent his first seven seasons with the Clippers is clearly giving serious thought to changing jerseys, as three people with knowledge of his situation said he is expected to meet with at least four teams — the Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks — in the first few days of free agency. The meetings are expected to take place in the Los Angeles office where Jordan's representatives, Dan Fegan and Happy Walters of Relativity Sports, are based. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the process.
NJ.com
Jeremy Lin, who was the most celebrated athlete in New York in 2011 when he became a surprise starter with the Knicks and ignited "Linsanity," could be returning to New York during free agency.
The point guard, who, while playing for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, hasn't achieved the success he had in New York, could be a Knicks target as they look for inexpensive, short-term players to form a bridge to the future during a total rebuilding of the organization.
When he returned to the Garden with the Lakers in April, Lin played 24 minutes and scored just four points in a 92-80 loss.
"Every time I come back, I always have great memories," Lin said then. "I remember those great times. I'm always thankful. Coming back to New York with these fans at the Garden, that was very special to me and I'll always cherish that."
Caron Butler
After his release from the Milwaukee Bucks before July 1, Caron Butler has emerged as a candidate for the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs, a league source told RealGM.
The Lakers and New York Knicks also expect to make an inquiry on Butler, a 13-year NBA veteran who has averaged 14.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for his career.
David Aldridge & #10004;@daldridgetnt
An under the radar free agent will be Dallas' Al-Faroqu Aminu. Sked to visit NYK, BOS, POR, TOR & NOP, w/Mavs still in mix.
Bucks writer Gery Woelfel reported on Saturday that Knight "will sign a five-year, $70 million contract with the Suns." That would apparently leave Bledsoe as the odd-man out in the Suns' backcourt, but he should have plenty of trade value despite the four years and $57 million remaining on his contract.
Related: Brandon Knight
Jun 28 - 11:44 PM
A few other teams showed interest in White but he opted to play for L.A., whose executives have reportedly gained his trust in recent weeks. He hopes to earn a contract after Summer League but it's far from certain that the 24-year-old will be on an active NBA roster when the season starts.
Related: Clippers
Source: Ben Bolch on Twitter Jun 28 - 7:16 PM
The Rockets could have difficulties in trying to re-sign Josh Smith as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports, Kevin Love has told the Cavaliers that he plans on returning to Cleveland next season.
Lastly, Chicago forward Jimmy Butler hopes to take his talents elsewhere and take advantage of the new television deal after his career year coincided with Tom Thibodeau’s firing and Derrick Rose’s chemistry issues. Although Butler wants to sign a one-year deal with the Lakers, according to a league source familiar with his thinking, the Bulls are expected to match any offer for the restricted free agent.
Zinger
Monroe
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So we know we are meeting with Monroe, West, Jordan, Aminu, and I guess aldridge? Is that it so far. FA does basically start tomorrow night.
Aminu is the type of UFA we should pursue. He has upside vis a vis expected salary (though I have no idea what that will be). Guy like Monroe and Danny Green will struggle to be worth more than their contract. Aminu is a very good rebounder and defender. Horrible from midrange. Has had 2 seasons at 35% from 3, and 3 seasons at <15%. Interestingly the 3 bad seasons were in NO where he took <50 per season, whereas the two good seasons he was at 143 and 124 3 attempts, respectively.
Green scares me. Very good in SAS, but how will he be outside of the best environment ever?
Butler's trade value is limited because he's probably going for a 1+1 wherever he ends up. He is a guy who would command a max deal under the new TV $$ cap.
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Now. His value will never be higher. He and rose do not get along together. However the bulls just can't let him go for nothing. The bulls aren't competing against the cavs any time soon.... so I rather start building for their stony davis run.
Butler's trade value is limited because he's probably going for a 1+1 wherever he ends up. He is a guy who would command a max deal under the new TV $$ cap.
They should explore a sign and trade. Or something. Trade him to the Lakers now...haha
They're just looking at the crappy end of the free agent list and connecting the dots as stopgaps for the knicks.
Caron Butler? Really?
Zinger
Monroe
Melo
Butler
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Butler would be a great signing. Grant and Butler backcourt would be one of the best defensively.
I was thinking about this and I really think NO has a solid shot to sign him. Hometown team and he'd be a perfect compliment to Anthony Davis. Davis can guard PF's, block, and defend the PnR while Monroe can guard the centers. Offensively it works too. There was a SI article a few weeks ago that mentioned that NO may be one of the few teams where he works perfectly.
However, as of now they're slated to only have around 7-10 million in cap space which would not be enough to sign him outright unless he's willing to take a discount. They would have to sign and trade for him I believe which, as we saw with the Melo Bulls situation last year, could be an issue.
I think them and perhaps Boston could be threats. Wonder who the other teams are.
If I'm the Knicks, I sign Butler to a 1+1 deal on Day 1 knowing Chicago will match. Force Chicago's hand and ensure Butler hits the market next season.
One of the greatest rebounders ever and great defensively, but he couldn't hit FTs, had 0 post game, and no outside shot. We're talking about a HOF player that only averaged double digit points once in his career. Considering he averaged almost 5 offensive rebounds/game, I'm going to assume most of his 7.3 pts/game came on put-backs (and he actually averaged 5.5 ORB/game and only 5.2 pts/game with CHI).
It's interesting that he has more success guarding the 2 than the 4. But on a team that has Melo, two rookies, and god knows what else, a real stopper would be a major add.
Carmelo Anthony said he is excited about Porzingis and is meeting with him today and plans to get a little workout in as well with him...
Link - ( New Window )
They would have to move either Gordon, Anderson, or Evans to do it.
Can Cleveland still offer that Brendan Haywood expiring? Because I think Tyreke Evans is exactly the type of player they want coming off the bench to spell Kyrie.
Sorry, I was looking at the wrong stat (volume) and remembering when he was on my fantasy team and giving me 3s, ST, BL, and Reb. I was too optimistic about his 3s.
Still, lock down defender, very strong SF rebounder (career 8.6/36 mins), and not entirely useless offensively. A reasonable alternative at (guessing) 15/3 to paying Green or Matthews 50/4.
Yeah, don't wanna touch Aminu with a 10 foot pole.
Marketing ploys.
Lin only makes sense if you dump calderon. No need for Calderon, Grant, and Lin (and Galloway if you want to call him a PG).