HoopsHype.com Rumors

Tuesday, September 15

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This much is said to be certain: Nate Robinson will play for the New York Knicks this season. "Yes, I'm 100 percent sure of that,'' his agent, Aaron Goodwin, said Tuesday in an interview with FanHouse. "Where else is he going to go?'' FanHouse.com

Well, the 5-foot-9 guard is a restricted free agent. And, while it's highly unlikely a team would put an offer down on him at this late stage and in this economy, isn't that still a possibility? "No,'' Goodwin said. "Nate has made it clear from the start that he only wants to play for New York. After July 1, we didn't talk to any other teams.'' That includes other countries. "That was never a consideration,'' Goodwin said of Robinson possibly going overseas after reports surfaced over the summer he was pondering signing with the Greek team Olympiakos. FanHouse.com

A source said the Robinson situation has dragged on because the Knicks established it as a priority in free agency to determine the fate of restricted free-agent forward David Lee before addressing Robinson. If there is a sign-and-trade done for Lee, pieces brought back could affect how the Knicks look at Robinson. "Nothing is done yet, but we're talking,'' Lee's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Tuesday in an interview with FanHouse about his client. "There are still some sign-and-trade scenarios that are being discussed or going back to the Knicks.'' FanHouse.com

A source close to the situation said Lee has no interest in returning to the Knicks for an amount equal to his $2.7 million qualifying offer. In order to get Lee, who averaged 16.0 points and 11.7 rebounds last season, into training camp on time, New York would need to offer a one-year deal worth a good bit more. FanHouse.com

Bartelstein said his client, free-agent forward Rob Kurz, will attend Cleveland's training camp on a non-guaranteed contract. "I think that's a really good fit for him,'' Bartelstein said. "I think he's got a chance to make the team.'' FanHouse.com

The NBA approved the Suns' contract buyout of Sasha Pavlovic, clearing the way for Phoenix to waive him today and reap $7.4 million of savings on his contract. Pavlovic accepted a buyout of $1.25 million, $250,000 less than his guaranteed salary of $1.5 million and $3.7 million less than his full salary of $4.95 for the last year of his contract. Keeping Pavlovic would have cost the Suns double his price because the Suns' payroll exceeds the luxury tax threshold. Arizona Republic

Recent reports say that Greek center Ioannis Bourousis has been offered a four-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs. It comes as no surprise as the 7-0, 280lbs center has been making waves as of late. Most recently Ioannis averaged 12.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 22 games with his Euroleague club Olympiakos Piraeus. The hulking center made his first All-Euroleague team and was named MVP of the 2009 Greek all-star game. Interbasket

76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the Sixers have officially signed free agent swingman Rodney Carney. Carney, who will start his fourth year in the league, played his first two seasons with the Sixers before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the deal that freed cap space for Elton Brand. Last season, Carney, 6-foot-7, averaged a career-high 7.2 points in 67 games for Minnesota. "Rodney Carney is a player that we feel will mesh extremely well with out current personnel and in the up-tempo style of play that Coach Jordan will continue to implement this season," Stefanski said. "We think that Rodney is one of the most athletic players in the league who has the ability to stretch the floor and we are happy to have him back." Philadelphia Inquirer

Mike Jones: After traning all summer with Haywood, spending some time w Arenas, working out w Miller, A.J.: "Iotta guys have chips on their shoulders." Twitter.com

WashingtonWizards.com has exclusive video footage of Gilbert Arenas' offseason training program. Gilbert has recently been in Chicago working out with renowned personal trainer Tim Grover and is getting ready for the start of the 09-10 season. Starting on Tuesday, September 15, WashingtonWizards.com will begin airing a three-part mini-series on Arenas' workout program. The first video will focus on Arenas' training in the offseason. Part 2, which will air on Thursday, September 17, will take a look at Arenas' rehab. Lastly, on Tuesday, September 22, the three-part series will conclude with a video detailing Arenas’ return to the court. Wizards.com

The Toronto Raptors have had a big summer, with GM Bryan Colangelo busily working to make sure Chris Bosh understands just how committed he is to winning which means putting the best possible team in place around their All-Star anchor. Colangelo wasted no time, securing the biggest name free agent of the summer in Hedo Turkoglu. Fresh off an NBA Finals appearance with the Orlando Magic, Turkoglu vastly increased his market value with his superb play in the 2009 playoffs. "Hedo is big piece for us as he is capable of contributing in so many ways," Colangelo tells HOOPSWORLD. "The guy is a very smart player and he has a certain moxy that we have lacked. He not only was a big reason (the Magic) got there, but he was arguably was the best player on the floor for the Magic during the finals." HoopsWorld

"Rasho gives us a veteran presence not only at the 5 position but also in the locker room," explains Colangelo. "He's the consummate professional and his teams always seem to succeed." HoopsWorld

Sekou Smith: Action cut short today. Josh Smith jammed his hand on the rim trying to block Teague’s shot. Needed seven stitches to close the gash. Twitter.com

With labor talks at a stalemate, the lead negotiator for NBA referees struck a conciliatory yet defiant tone Tuesday regarding commissioner David Stern on the eve of a crucial meeting in Chicago of the 57 NBA officials facing the prospect of a lockout. The NBA's labor agreement with the referees' union expired Sept. 1, and no new talks have been scheduled since Stern angrily and abruptly ended a formal bargaining session last Tuesday. Referees are scheduled to attend their annual training camp in New Jersey beginning Sunday, although it is unclear if the session will be held if labor talks remain in limbo. ESPN.com

Lamell McMorris, lead negotiator for the referees, said the onus was now on the NBA to pick up the phone to restart talks and that Wednesday's meeting in Chicago would serve as a briefing for the membership and a chance for the union's executive board -- Steve Javie, Bennett Salvatore, Joey Crawford, Bob Delaney and Bill Spooner -- to plot the next steps forward. "We remain wide open, as we have throughout this negotiation, to getting a deal done," McMorris told ESPN.com. "But any sensible person would have to agree that if someone throws you out of a meeting, it's probably up to them to call you back to the table. I didn't throw them out of the meeting, they threw us out of the meeting." ESPN.com

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade's legal team hopes that talks beginning Wednesday help him resolve legal disputes that could otherwise be an off-court distraction if they drag into the season. The mediation session could ultimately result in settlement of several lawsuits claiming he wrongly walked away from outside business ventures. Without a quick resolution to the legal proceedings — or their postponement until after the season — the team argues Wade could be risking injury by focusing on them instead of training. AP

With the NBA season around the corner, it's clear the Heat want to avoid legal distractions for Wade, their franchise player and last year's leading NBA scorer. In the schools case, the Heat say Wade won't be able to stay in shape if he's tied up in legal proceedings for weeks during the season. "Robbing Dwayne (sic) Wade of rest time, utilizing every waking moment between games, practices and arbitration hearing, and long travel in between, would severely compromise his physical capacity, and subject him to an increased risk of serious injury," the Heat said in a motion filed by attorney Alan Fein. "There is no compelling need to subject Dwayne Wade to these risks." AP

Duncanville native and former Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag said Monday that he would love to make an NBA comeback after three seasons in retirement and Dallas is his dream destination. The Mavericks' obvious hole on the roster? A backup center to Erick Dampier. "Everyone knows how bad I've wanted to play in Dallas," Ostertag said. "I grew up there. They were my favorite team growing up. I'd play there in a second. ... That would be the ultimate way to end my career." Dallas Morning News

President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said the 7-2, 36-year-old Ostertag is on the Mavericks' radar, but with the roster situation, some things would have to happen for them to make a serious run at him. The team is always open to trading and could pursue some two-for-one or even three-for-one deals that might open a roster spot. Dallas Morning News

Dupree, who finished last season with the NBA Development League's Utah Flash, has accepted an invitation to Jazz training camp and is expected to sign this week, agent Mark Bartelstein said Monday. Bartelstein added that Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor and vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin long have expressed interest in Dupree. Salt Lake Tribune

Bartelstein declined to say whether the Jazz had officially determined that Harpring would not be able to play this season. O'Connor didn't return messages Monday. Harpring, however, has struggled to overcome the effects of an infection he suffered last summer after undergoing ankle surgery as well as the multiple knee surgeries during his career. Salt Lake Tribune

Victor Claver: "The NBA is my dream, but I don't think about it right now because I don't feel ready." Solobasket

Pooh Jeter: If you didn’t know this already, the Lord works in mysterious way. I gave a commitment to the Portland Trailblazers after my season ended in Spain to play on their summer league team in Las Vegas. They told my agent Andre Buck that Jerryd Bayless and I will be the main point guards on the team. DraftExpress.com

Per the previous blog post, Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie told me this afternoon that second-round pick Jon Brockman will be officially signed either later today or tomorrow morning. Sacramento Bee

Last night on The Daily Show, LeBron James paid a visit to promote his new book Shooting Stars. Since LeBron is coming up on free agency (and because the Knicks are so consistently terrible), Jon Stewart tried to convince him to move to New York City by using a Shake Shack burger and shake as "food for thought": Jon Stewart: "I know you love burgers... I know you love Swensons [the burger chain in Ohio]. Are you familiar with Shake Shack?" LeBron James: "I'm familiar with Shaq Shack." eatmedaily.com

Edge Client Shaun Pruitt to attend training camp with the Golden State Warriors. Twitter.com

Marc Cornstein, Pavlovic’s agent, approached the Suns recently to talk to the team about a prospective buyout. If Pavlovic would have remained with the Suns, there was a reasonable chance that he would have been waived in December, allowing the organization to pay much less of a luxury tax to the league. “It wouldn’t make sense for us from a business standpoint to let him go just to let him go,” President of Basketball Operations and GM Steve Kerr said. “We also understood Sasha’s desire to move over with his career, find the right team and get to training camp. It worked out for both sides.” Suns.com

With interest from other teams in the sixth-year swingman, both parties agreed it would be best for Pavlovic to be able to pursue those opportunities with training camps beginning in the next few weeks. In order to speed up the process, Pavlovic’s camp broached the idea of a buyout, which would ultimately benefit the Suns more financially than if they just waived him. Suns.com

In addition to signing James Singleton today, the Mavericks also have waived Greg Buckner, a move that is not surprising. Owner Mark Cuban said that Buckner, as a courtesy for his professionalism in two previous stints with the Mavericks, would be waived in time to find another team if he could not be packaged in a trade. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Mavericks cut him and his $4-million contract, but will only have to pay the guaranteed portion of the deal, about $1 million. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Gina Miller: Buckner told me he wants 2 play somewhere. He also wants 2 coach. Twitter.com

When the Golden State Warriors convene for training camp in two weeks, they will do so with Stephen Jackson's status as team captain intact. Warriors coach Don Nelson told ESPN.com that he has no plans to strip Jackson of his captaincy in the wake of Jackson's recent disclosure that he wants to be traded to Cleveland, New York or one of the three Texas teams. ESPN.com

It has been widely speculated since Jackson's comments that the Warriors would seek to trade him -- less than a year after awarding him a three-year contract extension worth $28 million early last season -- but Nelson confirmed in a brief conversation Monday that "Jack is still my cap." "I've talked to him," Nelson said as he prepared to travel to Chicago for the annual preseason meeting of the National Basketball Coaches Association. "I don't anticipate any problems." ESPN.com

"As far as his remarks on playing for a championship, that's not the first time we've heard it because that's the goal that he sets for himself and his teammates every season," Riley said. "That's the type of confidence that he exudes as a player and the reason that he has endeared himself to our fans. That's who Stephen Jackson is. "We have always understood his desire to contend with the NBA's best. That's an aspiration that is shared by our entire organization. We will continue in our quest to achieve that goal, and to be aggressive in pursuit of those results." ESPN.com

Sam Alipour of ESPN.com is quickly becoming a Dream Shake regular, as he has yet again written something on the Houston Rockets. Small forward Trevor Ariza is is the subject of Alipour's latest piece, and while the majority of the Insider only article follows Ariza on his search for a Houston home, it was nice to see this paragraph on why the former Laker chose to sign with the Rockets: He does say his decision to sign with the Rockets was partly hoops based. "This was the best opportunity to show my abilities and expand my game." In the end, though, the main reason Ariza is spending an August weekend house hunting in Texas can be explained by a simple human need. "My whole career, all I've wanted is to feel wanted, and I have that now," he says. "It sounds crazy, but the Rockets swept me off my feet. I'm telling you, I've never felt so comfortable in my life. The Dream Shake

Allen Iverson: making a number of personal appearances in Milan, Poland and Barcelona. I am looking forward to working with the kids as well as working out with the professional basketball teams as well. Twitter.com

Allen Iverson: I am so looking forward to camp and my quest for an NBA Championship in Memphis! Twitter.com

Rudy Gay: I'm thinking about dressing up like Michael Jackson for the first game of the year! Which outfit should I wear? Twitter.com

Jokes aside, and there were plenty of them delivered on and off the floor Monday, Horford’s glad to be back. His summer has been filled with work-related travel and activity, a summer break that probably felt more like summer school in this case. After playing eight games in 10 days with the Dominican national team in the FIBAS Americas tournament in Puerto Rico, Horford took just a few days off before returning to the grind with an assortment of his Hawks teammates and other pros in daily workouts on the track and court. “I know this is a big season for us, a big year, and that’s what you have to do,” Horford said. “This is what you have to do. If you want to get better you have to put in the time. So I’m here just like the rest of these guys trying to get it done.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As much fun as he was having Monday, Horford acknowledged that the stakes are dramatically different now compared to what he was doing as recently as last week in Puerto Rico. “It’s a big difference between just pro basketball and when you’re playing against other countries,” he said. “It’s a big deal. There’s a lot of heart and a lot of emotion. It’s such a big deal. It’s a lot of fun. It’s different basketball, but a lot of fun.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sekou Smith: Bibby looks good. In game shape already even. Siler is much slimmer than he was during mini-camp and he's still huge. Twitter.com

Sekou Smith: Stackhouse is a man among boys in the paint so far. Three blocks on guys three and four inches taller than him on one sequence! Twitter.com

Arthur Triche: Some of the hoopsters in the building today - Mike Bibby, Al Horford, Anthony Johnson, Jerry Stackhouse, Jeff Teague & Randolph Morris. Twitter.com

Brandon Jennings had a well-publicized taped phone conversation that played on YouTube earlier in the summer, and one of the things Jennings said was that guard Ramon Sessions wouldn't be with the Bucks during the upcoming season. It turns out, Jennings was right. Sessions signed a four-year, $16.4 million offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves and officially joined the Western Conference team Friday when the Bucks declined to match the deal. Now, Jennings will face fellow rookie Jonny Flynn and Sessions in the opening pre-season game Oct. 4 when the Bucks play the Timberwolves in Mankato, Minn. "I wish him the best of luck," Jennings said of Sessions. "He did get a deal; he did get a team. I'm happy for him. I'm sure it was tough for him, waiting around and waiting around figuring out who was going to pick him up." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

There’s apparently some measure of consternation out there about Hedo Turkoglu’s health over in Poland. Well, I have it on great authority – top of the food chain, actually – that his ankle is not an issue but he’s got some minor soreness in one of his knees that’s causing some issues with his mobility. No one connected with the Raptors is concerned, it’s probably just a result of a lot of games in a lot of days and not a lot of rest time. Toronto Star

Ralph Lawler: Clipper players report to camp 2 wks from today. Most of them are already working out daily at team's practice facility. A Good sign. Twitter.com

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Marc J. Spears: LAC rookie Blake Griffin has been cleared to participate from summer shoulder injury with no limitations in all team activities. Twitter.com

Not sure of the extent of it at this point, but some East Coast contacts have heard that Mavericks' forward Tim Thomas has suffered a knee injury while playing in a pick-up game. The Mavericks apparently are aware of the situation, but doctors not affiliated with the team have looked at Thomas and declared that the injury is at least a sprain and could involve some cartilage damage. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Nicolas Batum, fresh off his breakout rookie season, has shown both maturation and an improved game this summer during high-level international competition in Europe. Batum, who starts alongside fellow NBA players Tony Parker, Ronny Turiaf and Boris Diaw on the French national team, has displayed increased confidence, a newfound aggressive nature and versatility while playing in EuroBasket, a premier international tournament. "The best players in the league are always trying to add something to their games (in the offseason)," Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said. "You're either getting better or getting worse. Well, I really feel like he's gotten better." Oregonian

"From everything I've heard, he's playing good basketball. He's been doing a little bit of everything. Scoring, rebounding; he's had a few assists, a few steals. They say he's just been playing well." Oregonian

Seeking to avoid the type of layoffs that cost the business side of the team's operation about 20 jobs in May, Heat President Pat Riley instead asked those on the basketball side of the team's operation to voluntarily accept pay cuts ranging from two percent to 20 percent. The cuts, which include everyone from the team's media-relations staff to the scouting staff to the executive staff, will cost Spoelstra and Riley well into the six figures. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The NBA Development League team in Frisco owned by Donnie Nelson and Evan Wyly will have a job fair for people hoping to begin a career in the sports business world on Thursday. Resumes will be accepted at the job fair will be from noon to 2 p.m. at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco. "We're looking for everything from a head coach to interns and most specifically for ticket-sales account executives,'' Nelson said. Dallas Morning News

Financial losses continue to mount for the New Jersey Nets, which during the first six months of fiscal 2009 had a net loss of $25 million, based on a SportsBusiness Journal analysis of quarterly earnings filings by the team’s parent company. Sports Business Journal

Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf didn’t want to make a judgment call on Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame speech. “Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player who ever played,” Reinsdorf said at a ceremony to help open Chicago Bulls College Prep, a charter high school a few blocks from the United Center. “He said what he wanted to say that night and it’s not up to me to grade it or interpret it.” Arlington Heights Daily Herald

When Kevin Martin signed a shoe deal with the Jordan brand last summer, it was a decision driven more by childhood idolatry of His Airness than the extra paycheck. Growing up in Zanesville, Ohio, the Kings' sixth-year shooting guard was among the millions worldwide who plastered Michael Jordan on their walls and tried to emulate his every move on the basketball court. His reverence for Jordan was so great, his disinterest in other shoe companies so obvious, you almost wonder if Jordan needed to pay him. Yet last weekend in Springfield, Mass., Martin felt like the richest man alive as he joined Jordan for his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Sacramento Bee

Martin – the relative rookie in a group of Jordan brand players on hand that included Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, Michael Finley, Juwan Howard, and Richard Hamilton – was thrilled to spend a few private minutes talking with Jordan at his afterparty. "I was congratulating him, just telling him it was well-deserved," Martin said. "And the first thing he said was, 'I can't wait to be here for your (Hall induction).' So I told him, 'Quit drinking.' " Sacramento Bee

The young players attending the NBA’s rookie symposium figured the tall, elderly black gentleman standing before them must be somebody important. But they didn’t know who he was. Even when Earl Lloyd was initially introduced, his name didn’t register any recognition from the audience. Only when it was announced that Lloyd had been the first black man to ever play in an NBA game did the players begin to stir. “Very few players know who I am,” Lloyd said. “…But once they find out who I am, I have their attention and they sit up.” Yahoo! Sports

When asked recently if he knew who Lloyd was, Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson replied, “Earl Lloyd? From where?” Celtics forward Glen Davis had no clue who Cooper was when told two years ago they shared the same No. 11 for the franchise. “I’m sure that one day we’ll be perceived as ones that created opportunities for people after us,” Celtics forward Kevin Garnett(notes) said last year. “It’s only right we give respect to people that came before us, Martin Luther King included, Mr. Lloyd.” Yahoo! Sports

The Grizzlies announced today that they will hold training camp in Birmingham, Ala. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca is considering a campaign for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat. A top adviser said Monday that Pagliuca, who is managing director of Mitt Romney's former firm, Bain Capital, "is experienced with the two big issues today: health care and the economy." WBZ.com

I want to thank Gary and Monique Payton for so graciously allowing us into their home today. It is one thing to meet somebody to talk. It is another to be in their house and be treated as kindly and graciously as we were today. GP spared nothing. He refused to let us take a cab home and actually invited us out to the MGM Grand with him tonight. Oh, and he is really confident a team will be coming. We’re setting a few meetings up. Sonics Central

I hesitate to put this up online but so much was made today about the bond between fans and the team that I feel the message should be shared. GP talked about how we went to the finals together and when I asked about the team he told me about how the team couldn’t do it with the fans and that we were all like his brothers and sisters. It was really touching. Thanks GP, it meant a lot to me! Sonics Central

Former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway, who in 2007 wrecked his post-basketball career by declaring on radio ``I hate gay people,'' will co-sponsor a South Beach fundraiser Sunday for The Trevor Project -- a national suicide prevention group for gay youth. ``Gays and lesbians, we don't have to accept the act, but we have to accept them as people. Especially children, we don't want them to kill themselves. We want them to live their lives as they want to,'' said Hardaway, who took several training sessions at YES Institute, a local anti-suicide group for gay youth. Miami Herald

``The endorsements will never come back. People have taken that and it's gone. I understand that. I'm trying to look for work and provide for my family,'' he said. ``All that stuff has left me high and dry. I have to dig for work.'' Hardaway has repeatedly apologized for what he said, but still wants to know who's gay in the locker room: ``We have a right to know. We'd say, `How do you want to do this? Do you want to go into the shower first, or do you want me to go into the shower first?' '' Miami Herald

The Miami Dolphins may have lost their season opener, but linebacker Joey Porter was all smiles Sunday night. The 32-year-old football star hosted a party at LIV in the Fontainebleau Hotel a few hours after his team's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Porter was joined by buddies including rapper Slim Thug, Miami Heat player Dorell Wright and comedian Tommy Davidson. Miami Herald

Former Chicago Bulls basketball player Horace Grant has won an arbitration case against a mutual fund he claimed misrepresented the risk levels of the bond funds it sold him. Morgan Keegan & Co. must pay Grant $1.46 million for losses he suffered in mutual funds that were heavily invested in complex securities known as collateralized debt obligations that were tied to residential mortgages. Chicago Tribune

Robert Traylor, the former University of Michigan and NBA basketball player, was sentenced Monday to 60 days in jail for breaking the terms of his probation from a 2007 tax conviction. Traylor, 32, pled guilty to three violations of his probation terms before U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn. Traylor hasn't paid the more than $175,000 in taxes, interest and penalties he owes the Internal Revenue Service, he has not set up a payment plan as ordered, and he has not filed his 2008 income tax return. Detroit News

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