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 hes 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.
Im looking to be with a team thats ready to win, Monroe told the newspaper. Hopefully it will be a team where Im 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.
Can confirm the Raptors have joined teams securing a free-agent meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge. Toronto contingent lined up for July 1
Can use them until Knicks need the cap space...once they need the cap space Knicks need to renounce them
Sourcs: Charlotte has informed forward Bismack Biyombo that it won't tender a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Lakers will push very hard for Dwyane Wade, who will also have interest from the Knicks (and others).
Agreed he will not cost that much and is still so young. Plus he fills a huge need.
only the clips can offer Jordan 5. He can only get 4 from other teams, even if it's a sign-and-trade.
Real plus minus (RPM) is a relatively new stat that is sort of like on/off except much better because it adjusts for a variety of factors. Basically it is an attempt to gauge impact. Like anything else there are outliers that get overrated or underrated by this metric, nothing is perfect. The top 4 guys last year in RPM was Curry, Harden, Lebron and Anthony Davis. I think a consensus of basketball fans would have also labeled that the top 4 players in the league last year in general. The guy in 5th? Kawhi Leonard. I'm not sure of label Leonard as high as 5, but he's closer to 5 in terms of impact than he is to 25. He can't volume score on a superstar level (at least I don't believe so, but even that is up for a little debate because the Spurs system deflates individual stats), but even so, individual high volume scoring is a less valuable asset than ever with the way modern offenses have evolved their attack, it's not a necessity for potent offenses now with today's spacing and ball movement, and it's basically a dying phenomenon reserved for a select few.
Not sure how I feel about gutting the team to add Aldridge.
And even all that aside, I think the Duncan-Pop era Spurs are just this magic land where everyone is awesome. Take away Duncan and Manu and it gets rougher. I just dont view Leonard, Aldridge, and a declining Parker as much of a championship core. So it's 2015-16 or bust if LA goes there unless another big FA follows next year.
Two totally different plays. Jordan gets $80-100+ million. Biyambo apparently had no trade value on a $5.5 million QO (or MJ is an idiot).
Not sure how I feel about gutting the team to add Aldridge.
I revisit a Lawson trade. It might depend on whether you guys are willing to include Capela along with T Jones. The Rockets with Lawson would have the best starting five in basketball.
He'd have 5 points in the morning
-Charles Barkley
I don't like the idea of Enes Kanter on O without Russell Westbrook. I'm horrified of the idea of Enes Kanter on D without Serge Ibaka.
I don't think he's the 5th best player but he's not too far away. He is better than a ton of guys who may have more impressive box score stats
Don't know if I'd take that risk. He is awful defensively. Not like Monroe bad. Like worst defender in the league bad. He fits perfectly in OKC because he can guard centers and Ibaka and Adams can help cover for his problems.
And plus, I don't like the idea of getting our money tied up while OKC ponders to match him, which they probably well because they are giving away assets for nothing (see: Lamb, Jeremy) in order to keep him. We can miss out on free agents while we wait for OKC to make a decision, which will probably be to match it anyways.
Even after Pop leaves, that franchise will be in good hands. We saw how a Pop assistant led a team to 60 wins and even beat him out for coach of the year. And Leonard and Alrdige are better than any players on those teams. Pop will make sure the Spurs are prepared for a life without him.
I love to add DeAndre. His defensive presence alone will have a huge impact. Jordan is what Chandler should have been until he just fell off a cliff in NY.
Would feel comfortable giving DeAndre big money. He's in his prime and barring injury figures to be a really good defensive player and rebounder for the life of his contract (and likely more).
As much as we want to believe KP can be a rim protector, he's really not close to being there yet. DeAndre can pick up that slack while KP can just go out there without getting face fucked every minute trying to block NBA bigs shots/dunks.
Looks like everyone's just guessing again.
Meanwhile, LOL, Hardaway says he won't forget the Jackson diss. (link)
More importantly, can he remember two things at once: the Jackson diss, and to actually guard somebody? Doubtful.
Meanwhile it wasn't really a diss. Jackson got someone talented for him.
Link - ( New Window )
Best rebounder in the game though.
Best rebounder in the game though.
No, no argument there, but he's still a quality rim protector. Moreover, having a rebounder like that would be especially helpful if you put Melo at the 4 or eventually KP as a stretch 4, as I have a hard time picturing KP being a plus rebounder.
DeAndre Jordan scheduled to meet with Dallas, Lakers, Knicks, all on Wednesday, sources. DJ will meet Clippers last on Thursday.
Why do I have a scary feeling we end up with Jordan and wade who take up all our space. Really don't want wade and don't like they we have been linked to him.
Uh, wow. We're not going to agree on this. Might as well not discuss it.
Would have to get rid of Calderon..
Supposedly Wade is asking for a 3 year deal starting at 16