HoopsHype.com Rumors

Friday, September 4

Visit the HoopsHype.com Forums to discuss the latest news and rumors in the NBA / You also can check out rumors from back in the day in the Rumors Archive

The waiting and wondering is finally over for restricted free agent Ramon Sessions, who agreed Friday to sign a four-year, $16 million offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves. ESPN.com

A source told ESPN.com that the paperwork on the deal was being processed Friday morning. After Sessions signs, the Milwaukee Bucks will have seven days to match the offer, which they are not expected to do. ESPN.com

Matching the offer to Sessions, whose deal includes a player option for the fourth season, would put the Bucks over the luxury tax threshold, making it extremely unlikely the two-year veteran will return to Milwaukee. ESPN.com

The Wolves lost out on Ricky Rubio for at least the next two years, but Wolves president David Kahn moved swiftly Friday to fill the point guard void, signing Bucks restricted free agent Ramon Sessions to a reported four-year, $16 million offer sheet. The deal, which Milwaukee can match within the next seven days, would give the Wolves a veteran point guard presence to pair with rookie Jonny Flynn. "We are excited about the opportunity to have Ramon Sessions on our team," said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. "Ramon has the ability to play both guard positions, and thus will be able to complement the members of our current backcourt. At only 23, Ramon also has the potential to improve and fits our plan of building a young, up-tempo team with championship contending potential." Minneapolis Star Tribune

Adrian Wojnarowski: Ramon Sessions offer sheet with Minnesota totals $16.4 million, with a player option for $4.5 million in 2012-13, league memo says. Twitter.com

The New York Knicks expect to sign restricted free agent David Lee to a one-year contract at some point after Labor Day, officials familiar with the talks said Friday. Knicks president Donnie Walsh said he doesn't think a Lee sign-and-trade is possible. Even though the Knicks like Lee, Walsh said he is not interested in signing the forward to a long-term contract at this point; he wants to maintain as much payroll flexibility for next summer, when LeBron James, Chris Bosh and other prominent players will be free agents. ESPN.com

Contract discussions are expected to heat up next week, with a deal expected to fall into the $6 million-to-$8 million range. The only way the deal with Lee wouldn't get done is if another team offers the Knicks a sign-and-trade scenario for a player the Knicks like at least as much as Lee and still allows for future financial flexibility. ESPN.com

Knicks president Donnie Walsh and the agent for restricted free agent David Lee plan to speak after Labor Day, and both sides are hopeful they can resolve the power forward's contract stalemate before the team reports to training camp at the end of the month. CBSSports.com

Anyway, Bartelstein said Friday that he and Walsh haven't even exchanged contract figures on a one-year deal yet. And based on Bartelstein's comments, that aspect of the negotiation could be somewhat time-consuming. "If we can't do a sign-and-trade, we'll come up with a deal that pays David for one year based upon who he is as a player and based on comparables and playing for the minimum for four years and being their best player," Bartelstein said. "(Walsh) wants to do the right thing for someone who clearly deserves a long-term deal, but the organization has clearly decided not to do a long-term deal." CBSSports.com

Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors agreed in principle with restricted free agent guard C.J. Watson on a one-year deal for slightly more than $1 million. Watson turned down a three-year, $4.5 million offer from Golden State last month, hoping that teams that had expressed interest earlier in the summer, including Orlando and Philadelphia, would come up with improved offers. If Watson signs the one-year deal, he'll still be a restricted free agent next summer, meaning the Warriors could match any offer he receives elsewhere. NBA.com

But Watson, according to a source, didn't want to be stuck in Golden State for the next three years as the team's third point guard, which the team told him would be his role--a role that would not likely afford him the playing time he's looking for, or the opportunity to put up the kind of numbers that would get him another deal in 2012. Watson thinks it's better to play out the contract, see what's available in free agency next summer and, under a worse-case scenario, then play one more year in Golden State before becoming an unrestricted free agent. NBA.com

The only players who didn't show up this week were Battie and Bobby Simmons, who were dealing with important family matters; and Sean Williams, whose excuse was not disclosed by Harris. "I expressed to him how much we need him here, but it was more important he comes (to camp) with the right mindset," Harris said. Newark Star-Ledger

See, Thomas and DerMarr Johnson collaborated on a track, talking about how each of them had overcome traumatic health issues. (Johnson was in a serious accident.) They recently played the track on Zirin's satellite radio show, Edge of Sports. (Listen here. You won't be sorry.) And while Thomas's verse is focused on the sports media in general, it's hard not to think of his feud with Ivan when hearing spoken word passages like this: They are not hopping out of priestly robes no matter how much the power of the pen ascends upon them. They're still blending truth with fiction for the sole purpose of winning over the reader's attention. Washington Post

Former NBA and University of Hartford star Vin Baker is in some deep financial trouble with the state. The state Department of Revenue Services lists Baker as the state's second biggest tax delinquent. The agency says Baker owes nearly $1.2 million in back taxes to the state in a list of the top 100 tax delinquents in the state each month. Those who are working with the state to pay down the debt or who have declared bankruptcy are taken off the list. NBCConnecticut

Reality TV star (and we use that term loosely) Khloe Kardashian will be the newest celeb Lakers fan sitting courtside, thanks to her boyfriend Lamar Odom. “They’re very, very happy,” the Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami star’s sister, Kim Kardashian, tells PEOPLE magazine. “They’ve been together a few weeks, and are literally inseparable. Khloe thinks he’s amazing and makes her laugh and smile constantly.” Orange County Register

Former basketball star Antonio Burks, who was shot during an armed robbery on July 20, has been released from the hospital. Christopher Burks said his brother was transferred to a rehabilitation facility Wednesday and is doing well. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Robert G. "Buddy" Blattner, a former major leaguer whose broadcast career included being the longtime voice of the NBA's St. Louis Hawks, has died. Blattner died Friday of complications from lung cancer at his home in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield, his daughter said. He was 89. CBSSports.com

Sessions, a restricted free agent who wound being the Bucks' starting point guard last season after just two years in the NBA, could be on the verge of receiving an offer sheet. Surprisingly, it might not come from the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Clippers -- two teams that have heavily courted Sessions since the commencement of free agency on July 1. According to some NBA officials, Sessions may wind up signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are in the market for a guard after their top choice in the 2009 draft -- Ricky Rubio -- recently decided to play for Regal FC Barcelona. Racine Journal-Times

The prevailing feeling was that Sessions would sign an offer sheet with the Knicks. New York coach Mike D'Antoni has an excellent rapport with Sessions and respects his game. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has had repeated conversations with Wells and with Bucks general manager John Hammond about some sign-and-trade scenarios, although the parties couldn't come to any agreement. The Knicks have their sights set on signing Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James next summer and don't want to disrupt their salary-cap situation. Racine Journal-Times

Chris Bosh: Question... Why does everyone ask me what I'm doing in 2010 when I keep saying I don't know? I'm just curious. Twitter.com

Iverson -- known as The Answer -- is expected to give the Grizzlies an answer Friday on whether he’ll accept their one-year offer, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Iverson’s agent, Leon Rose, informed the Grizzlies earlier this week that a decision would come before the weekend. Iverson, 34, is a free agent for the first time in his 13-year career, and has expressed interest in playing for Charlotte and Memphis in recent weeks. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Griz general manager Chris Wallace wouldn’t confirm a timetable on a potential Iverson deal but put the odds of the veteran scorer playing in Memphis at “50-50.” “We’ll see,” Wallace said. “It’s a holding pattern. He’s in new territory. He’s never been a free agent. He’s never been a free agent this late in the offseason. I’m sure he’s trying to turn over as many scenarios as he can until he has to commit.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Alex Kennedy: Iverson considering playing overseas? Olympiakos is offering more than Memphis and the Grizzlies just worked out a handful of other guards. Twitter.com

Allen Iverson: I'll be working out again today in ATL. Spoke with a couple teams this week, and I think we are getting real close to a deal. I hope so! Twitter.com / September 3

Ronald “Flip” Murray remains a person of interest for the Griz. Securing Murray, however, would require part or all of the Grizzlies’ cap space. Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Memphis Grizzlies have offered point guard Mike Taylor a contract following his workout with the team on Thursday, sources tell RealGM's Alex Kennedy. RealGM

A little birdie said new Wolves President David Kahn has absolutely no interest in trading top draft pick Ricky Rubio, 18, who has committed to play in Spain two more seasons. And especially not to the New York Knicks, who have nothing reasonable to offer in exchange. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Eric Pincus: I've been told by rock solid source that the Clippers did NOT make an offer to Arroyo - and aren't planning to. Twitter.com

There are also two free agents left on the roster who are unsigned: James Singleton and Gerald Green. The guess is that both will end up elsewhere, although the Mavericks would like to figure out a way to keep Singleton. Two other unsigned rookies, Nick Calathes and Ahmad Nivins, will play overseas this season. Dallas Morning News

The Mavericks gave a qualifying offer to Singleton after last season. If he signs it, he'll be paid the minimum salary for a fourth-year pro, and the $825,497 would be guaranteed. If he renounces it, Singleton becomes a free agent. He said Thursday that offers from other teams equal to the veteran minimum have been received by his agent, Buddy Baker, and that he's weighing his options to find the best situation. Dallas Morning News

"Their roster is pretty full right now," Singleton said. "It's about situations and where you fit in best. Several teams out there wanted to sign me to the same thing the Mavs want me to. "If they think I'm holding out for more money, that's not what I'm doing. And if I do return, they know what I'm going to give them. Hopefully, things will get squared away in the next week or two." Dallas Morning News

The Mavericks aren't particularly enthused that Singleton is taking his time in regard to accepting or rejecting the qualifying offer. "The fact that he hasn't to this point has us a little upset," owner Mark Cuban said. "It means he is looking for any deal he can find, dragging us along rather than committing to us knowing that with the second year [as a Maverick] under his belt, he becomes an early-bird free agent next year. "If he doesn't want to be here, we would rather he just revoke the qualifier and [let him] become a full free agent." Dallas Morning News

Cuban said that swingman Greg Buckner won't be on the roster when the regular season starts. Buckner's contract is only partially guaranteed, meaning he can be waived and the team that does so will owe him only half of his $4 million salary. Buckner's professional attitude in past tours with the Mavericks is working in his favor. "Buck won't be here," Cuban said. "We will either make him part of a deal or free him up so he can get another job. It's not fair to him to just drag it along." Dallas Morning News

	Want to follow HoopsHype.com on Twitter too? Click here.

The Rockets signed Pops. All is well. Perhaps not. The Rockets genuinely like Pops Mensah-Bonsu. He is an energy player who seems determined only to find ways to help his team win, which is a good thing. He has a non-guaranteed contract, but on the day he signed it, weeks before camp starts, the Rockets do hope he plays his way on the team. The Rockets hope to trim a guaranteed contract from the roster to help them keep both Mensah-Bonsu and Joey Dorsey, most likely either dealing Brent Barry for a non-guaranteed contract or reaching a buyout deal with him. Houston Chronicle

Daryl Morey is still working the phones and sounds eager to continue to upgrade the team before the season, rather than to wait for mid-season when more GMs will be open to dealing. Most deals at this point, however, seem to be tinkering, with the more significant roster changes coming later. At least when seeking trades, it seems that the only teams that don't expect to win 50 games think they'll win 60. They are worried about how they can possibly cut one of their gifted players, rather than on how they can get their hands on some of the Rockets'. Houston Chronicle

The Indiana Pacers signed their second-round draft pick (52nd pick overall) A.J. Price to a multi-year contract Thursday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Indianapolis Star

"Michael Finley had more issues with Bruce than anyone before he came to play with him," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said by phone before Game 4 in San Antonio on Monday night. "Bruce is in other people's space more consistently than any defender I've ever seen. When you don't have to face that on a night-to-night basis, it provides a great deal of frustration for players who are used to getting the benefits of their space." Yahoo! Sports

Maybe he would've stayed with Rick Pitino's Celtics and Larry Brown's 76ers and Pat Riley's Heat if he could've made a jump shot. Of course, they would've been wise to give the time to develop it. "He's outworked people to reap those benefits offensively," Buford said. Yahoo! Sports

NBA commissioner David Stern told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday the league will soon follow the NFL in announcing Twitter guidelines and other social media restrictions for its players and coaches. “Obviously, there is a happy medium between tweeting before the game and tweeting from our bench during the game,” Stern said by phone. “You want to make sure that pop culture doesn’t intrude on what brought us here, which is the game, and that we show the right respect for the game.” Yahoo! Sports

Stern described the NBA’s guidelines as “nothing too serious.” “We just need to make sure when it’s OK to Tweet and when it’s not OK to Tweet so it at least focuses around the game,” he said. “It would look unusual for a guy sitting on the bench to pick up his cell phone, and I think we can agree that he probably shouldn’t be writing e-mails. It’s not about Twitter; it’s about the line of communication. That’s what we’re focusing on. “We’re happy to let it play out to see if it merits all the attention that it’s getting. We don’t want to overreact.” Yahoo! Sports

One Western Conference executive said his team already planned to give its players a set of guidelines upon their arrival at training camp later this month. “We’ve had discussions regarding the development of a team policy that would not interfere with a player’s ability to dialogue with fans via social networking, but would deter or prohibit such dialogue from taking place during ‘business hours’ at and around the workplace, time surrounding games, practice, team-related events, etc.,” the executive said. “We would also attempt to address the matter of our players utilizing social network vehicles to release team-related news and business information.” Yahoo! Sports

He fell short in an attempt to return in time for the playoffs last season and he's been compelled to take things sloth-like slow this offseason, but the wait is finally over for Trail Blazers small forward Martell Webster. The one-time Blazers starter has been cleared for all basketball-related activities, according to general manager Kevin Pritchard, and is poised for a return when training camp opens later this month. Oregonian

Sacramento Kings forward Francisco Garcia is listed as doubtful for the Dominican Republic's quarterfinal game Friday against Canada. Coach Julio Toro confirmed the injury after Thursday's 86-73 victory over Mexico. "Francisco has a cut in one of his fingers. He basically has a nail out of place," Toro said. "I was told (Thursday) that he wouldn't be available and I haven't been told if he will be available (Friday)." ESPN.com

Now, with NBA training camps less than a month away, it's time for Colangelo to really hone in on the World Championships, which run Aug. 28-Sept. 12, 2010 in Turkey. In an interview Thursday with FanHouse, Colangelo outlined some of the parameters that will be used in selecting the team. "We're going to look at the national team roster that had 33 names on it, making deletions and making some additions, and we'll come up with about 25 names by late in the fall," Colangelo said. "That's around the corner, so I need to start talking to guys that represented us in the Olympics and see where they are for the World Championships." FanHouse

There are 12 holdovers from last summer's Olympics along with the 22 invitees to Las Vegas in July. But point guard Jason Kidd, 36, has said his USA Basketball run concluded in Beijing. "I would say that is probably true," Colangelo said of Kidd having retired from international competition, although he said he would speak to him as a courtesy. FanHouse

Colangelo will talk this fall to all the Olympic holdovers. He spoke to seven -- James, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams -- at last February's NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. "All of them said yes (about playing in Turkey)," said Colangelo, who in July got a commitment from Mike Krzyzewski about returning as coach at least through the 2012 Olympics in London. "But I will want another discussion with them to see where they stand." FanHouse

It's considered a no-brainer that Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, star of the summer camp, will find his way to Turkey. Colangelo didn't do much to dispute that. "Let's say everybody wants to come back and we have Kevin now, and Kevin Durant is going to replace somebody," Colangelo said of the roster. "Let's put it this way. If the top seven or eight players from the Olympic team all committed (to the Worlds), you're looking at Tayshaun (Prince) and (Carlos) Boozer... and Michael Redd. Those guys will have competition." FanHouse

So which of the young players have the best chance to earn trips to Turkey? Colangelo mentioned four who participated in Las Vegas. "Durant, Rudy Gay and the guard from Oklahoma City, (Russell) Westbrook. And Derrick Rose," Colangelo said. "(Rose) can play better than he did (in Las Vegas) but we don't base our decisions just on two or three days of camp." FanHouse

New Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis, who was a longtime assistant to Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, insisted Thursday that his four-year contract has no escape clause to replace Jackson when he leaves. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Mark Madsen: pondering on playing vs. coaching vs. media..thinking bout next phase... If I coach...I need all of you to help me find good recruits!! Twitter.com

The Maine Red Claws are expected to name former NBA guard Randy Livingston and former Celtic scout Mike Procopio as assistants to head coach Austin Ainge, a league source said today. Livingston played for nine teams in an 11-year NBA career, then went to Idaho and was chosen the D League's most valuable player in 2007, retiring to become an assistant coach with the Stampede. Boston Globe

Jeanie Buss: Phil says I am on Twitter too much. I don't agree but he suggests I go in for professional tweetment. Twitter.com

The Commish is duly proud of the work he and his league have put into bringing the NBA back from irrelevancy in the late 70s -- "I'm not falsely modest," he says. But he's also aware that he didn't do it alone, and that people in business suits aren't wholly responsible. The ground for Jordan's ascension was laid by Russell's Celtics, and West's and Baylor's Lakers, and the Knicks of Clyde Frazier and Dollar Bill Bradley, and Dr. J and the ABA, and Rick Barry, and Bill Walton, and Wes Unseld, and Kareem, and Earl the Pearl, and a hundred other guys. NBA.com

"I've said for years that he's the greatest player I've ever seen," West says by telephone. "He was the best offensive player and he was the best defensive player. I know Scottie Pippen got a lot of credit for being a great defensive player. He wasn't Michael Jordan, trust me." "MJ was different than any other player you could prepare for," e-mails Joe Dumars, himself a Hall of Famer, and the lynchpin to the Pistons' infamous "Jordan Rules," Detroit's line of defense against Jordan. "You simply defended him as tough as possible and HOPED that he was off that night." NBA.com

"He's really a man's man," West says. "I love being around him. I love the fact that he knows about basketball. He played the game at its very highest level in terms of his commitment and more important, his dedication ... he got the intellectual part of it right. Magic had the intellect to play the game, John Stockton, who gets no credit -- I think he and Rick Barry are two of the smartest players to play the game. But Michael, with his intellect, combined with the physical equipment he had, he was like Superman out there." NBA.com

Living on the street almost killed him. Praying for forgiveness literally saved him. "I feel lucky to still be alive,'' Vaughn said last week when we met at the downtown public library, heaven for an avid reader and a day-time haven for anyone living on the streets. It's where he felt comfortable enough to sit and talk about his life after basketball, about his downward spiral, about hitting bottom nine months ago in that hospital room, and his rebirth through the last several months."I went from the pinnacle of having it all, to the pits of having absolutely nothing, and seeing no light at the end of the tunnel.'' -- David Vaughn. FanHouse

"I went from the pinnacle of having it all, to the pits of having absolutely nothing, and seeing no light at the end of the tunnel,'' he said. "I was a mess, but I didn't want to end up in hell. And now I'm on my way back.'' FanHouse

His original three-year guaranteed contract with the Magic didn't come with any guarantees of a successful life. The contract didn't come with a course in life management skills, and he had none when his basketball career finished. He had no degree after three years in college, and no real desire to get one. "We're fortunate that he's still with us, after all he has been through the last few years,'' said Kyle Rote, Jr. his former agent who has kept in and out of contact with him and his wife. "A lot of guys would be dead. I've always said `it's a lot harder to get out of big-time professional sports than it is to get into it.' You get sucked into that lifestyle, and there's no easy way out.'' FanHouse

"I have no regrets, except for what I put my family through,'' he said. "I'm a lot smarter now. I made it to the NBA, which was a dream of mine. I just didn't know what to do when I got there. The money doesn't last forever. It comes and goes. I made a lot of bad choices. Now I just want to get a decent job, drive a truck, be a security guard, maybe coach a little. I'd be happy with that life. My wife stuck with me through the hard times -- and I'm grateful -- and we made it through the storm.'' FanHouse

Former Laker Rick Fox is heading to “Melrose Place.” The ex-NBA forward is currently filming his first episode on The CW drama, a publicist for the show confirmed to Access Hollywood. Rick, who hit the set for the first time on Thursday, is playing a nightclub boss in the revamped series. “He plays the owner of COAL,” the “Melrose Place” rep told Access. AccessHollywood

Samuel Dalembert has listed for sale a one-bedroom, one-bath condo at 201 N. Eighth St. in Center City East for $399,900. Dalembert paid $423,000 for the property in Sept. 2005. The 1,252-square-foot Unit #702 is part of the Metroclub condo development, which was built in 1970. Margaret Szumski of Plumer & Associates Inc. is the listing agent for the condo. BlockShopper

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was informed Friday that his former fiancée, who was recently sentenced to five years in prison for a probation violation in Missouri, is not pregnant as she has maintained for months. Nowitzki is in South Africa this week as part of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program and could not be reached for comment. ESPN.com

"As we suspected from the start, we did not believe that she was pregnant and now that has been confirmed," Hart said. The test, ordered July 24 by Dallas family court Associate Judge Randall Grubbs, was administered in Missouri. Hart on Friday received the documentation confirming that Taylor is not pregnant. "Good news on Dirk's ex," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said via his Twitter feed Thursday afternoon. "No surprise. Can't wait [for] training camp." ESPN.com

Visit the HoopsHype.com Forums to discuss the latest news and rumors in the NBA.

Any rumor missing? E-mail us at hoopshype@hoopshype.com.