HoopsHype.com Rumors

Chris Broussard: Source says Rip Hamilton told his agent Leon Rose he's upset Rose participated in letter, which is perceived by many as anti-union. Source adds that Rip told Rose he'll leave & take other players with him if Rose doesn't leave the "anti-union" group. Twitter

Detroit Pistons, Richard Hamilton, CBA, Leon Rose, Chauncey Billups, Lockout, NBPA, Agents 

The seven agents who sent NBA players a "warning letter" on Monday are holding a conference call Wednesday afternoon to discuss their next move in the league's player lockout, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Those agents -- Arn Tellem, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Jeff Schwartz, Leon Rose, Henry Thomas and Mark Bartelstein -- have been strong behind-the-scenes advocates of decertification for the NBA Players Association. The meeting was expected to begin at 2 p.m. ET. ESPN.com

Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The letter, which was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher, has been widely viewed by players and others around the league as critical of the union's leadership. But one of the agents said Wednesday that the call will center on how the agents can best help union executive director Billy Hunter get a fair deal for the players, rather than on pushing for decertification against the union's wishes. ESPN.com

Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Sam Amick: He was, the agent says, a key power player in relationship between William Wesley and Rose that has led to much of CAA's recent growth. Twitter

William Wesley, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Sources say the letter, a copy of which was obtained from a player who received it, was jointly composed by Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group; Bill Duffy of BDA Sports; Dan Fegan of Lagardere Unlimited; Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management; Leon Rose and Henry Thomas of Creative Artists Agency; and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports and Entertainment. ESPN.com

CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

According to two sources close to the situation, the agent for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and many more stars, CAA lead man Leon Rose, has privately made it known that he is in favor of the strategy that union officials have consistently resisted and deemed a "nuclear option." It's a potentially significant addition to a camp that already included a number of the most influential agents in the game, among them Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group), Dan Fegan (Lagardere Unlimited), Bill Duffy (BDA Sports), Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports), and Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management). SI.com

CBA, Leon Rose, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Agents 

Advocates of decertification see it as a last-ditch effort for badly-needed leverage, with the hope that the league's owners would come to a much greater compromise in negotiations once they realize the players are willing to sacrifice some of, if not all, of the season. Unless union executive director Billy Hunter changes his long-held stance against decertification, 30 percent of the league's players would need to sign a petition supporting it in order to move to a vote for involuntary decertification. That vote, according to sources, would likely take between 45 and 60 days and would require a majority vote in order to pass. SI.com

CBA, Leon Rose, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Agents 

Williams recently fired longtime agent Bob McLaren. Reports indicate that Williams likely will be represented by Leon Rose of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) — which lists LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh as clients. But sources said Williams also is considering Jeff Schwartz, who represents Jason Kidd, Devin Harris, Paul Pierce, Blake Griffin and Lamar Odom, among others. Bergen Record

New Jersey Nets, Leon Rose, Deron Williams, Jeff Schwartz, Agents 

At this point, Deron Williams’ switching agents doesn’t have an impact on the Nets. He fired Bob McLaren and is expected to join Leon Rose of CAA when the two-week grace period is up. Some of you are probably thinking that means Deron is going to try and force his way out here - and maybe to the Knicks - since many of CAA’s big clients lately have jumped shot (LeBron, Bosh, Carmelo). Some of you probably think that means CAA is going to try to team some of its players with Deron in Newark/Brooklyn. J.R. Smith is the only bigger name that can be a free agent this summer. Bergen Record

New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, Free Agency, Leon Rose, Deron Williams 

New Jersey guard Deron Williams is expected to sign with agent Leon Rose, a source said Tuesday, after leaving former longtime agent Bob McClaren. Messages left for Rose and a representative for McClaren were not immediately returned. Bloomberg News reported Tuesday that Williams had fired McClaren, who is primarily known as an MLB agent but had close ties with Williams. Williams spent six seasons with the Jazz before being unexpectedly traded Feb. 23 to the Nets. Salt Lake Tribune

New Jersey Nets, Leon Rose, Deron Williams 

Rose, who is affiliated with Creative Artists Agency, is one of the premier agents in the NBA. CAA represents LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, among others, and played a pivotal role in James' controversial decision to move to Miami last summer. Williams is expected to sign with Rose, the source said, with the hope that Rose's star power will help bring top-tier talent to Brooklyn, which is where the Nets are expected to move for the 2011-12 season. Williams has one year left on his contract with New Jersey. He holds a player option worth $17.7 million in 2012-13. Salt Lake Tribune

New Jersey Nets, Leon Rose, Deron Williams 

New Jersey guard Deron Williams is expected to sign with agent Leon Rose, a source said Tuesday, after leaving former longtime agent Bob McClaren. Messages left for Rose and a representative for McClaren were not immediately returned. Salt Lake Tribune

New Jersey Nets, Leon Rose, Deron Williams, Agents 

David Locke: The agent change by Deron is a huge move. McClaren was his longtime agent and tied into Baggio and Bagwell with Astros who were team lifers Twitter

New Jersey Nets, Leon Rose, Deron Williams, Agents 

It's unnecessary to ask who "they" are. It's well-known they are CAA's talent-hoarding force field, agents Leon Rose and Wes Wesley. Wide World Wes kinda "represents" Calipari in that the NBA Players Association sorta insists negotiators pick up commissions exclusively from players or coaches, not both. Because of the increasingly cozy relationship between Dolan's Camp Cablevision and CAA's posh clients, Rose and Wesley would be privy to such classified information and, in Calipari's circumstance, have a need to know it. New York Post

New York Knicks, Coaching, Leon Rose, John Calipari, Williams Wesley 

J.R. Smith’s search for a new agent was, in his mind, never expected to be long. He already knew where he wanted to go, and now he’s there. Smith, the athletic Nuggets guard, is now with Leon Rose at Creative Artists Agency. Smith said he signed with Rose and CAA “in the last few days.” He recently left the Wasserman Media Group where he had been represented by Arn Tellem and Thad Foucher. “I knew who I wanted to represent me,” Smith said. “It’s great from a communication standpoint. I don’t really have to look for him. He’s looking for me. He looks at it as a pleasure to have me; just as for me I look at it as a pleasure to have him.” Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Leon Rose, JR Smith 

Alex Kennedy: Curry will sign for the prorated veteran's minimum and the Miami HEAT top his (and agent Leon Rose's) wish list. Twitter

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Eddy Curry, Leon Rose 

Marc J. Spears: Agent Leon Rose: "I'm extremely happy for Melo. We are very appreciative to the Denver Nuggets organization for their efforts in assisting. Twitter

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Leon Rose 

But what Denver may be relying on here is Carmelo's representation also feeling pressure. A source said "there'll be changes made if [the deal with the Knicks] doesn't get done," and agent Leon Rose has to be concerned about other high powered agents attempting to lure Carmelo away from Creative Artists Agency. So with that stake in this process, there is more pressure applied on the Knicks to appeal to Denver's demands to ensure a trade does happen. Anthony has told confidants that the Knicks are his prefered destination, according to sources, but despite that bit of leverage, the Knicks can't operate as if they are bidding against themselves. "They're not bidding against themselves," said a person with knowledge of the situation. "There's two other teams: the Nets and the Nuggets." Newsday

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Leon Rose 

Several sources told Yahoo! Sports that Carmelo Anthony’s agent, Leon Rose, has recently begun informing teams that the All-Star forward is interested in signing a contract extension with only the New York Knicks. The stance has weakened the Denver Nuggets’ leverage in trying to deal Anthony, not only to other teams, but also the Knicks. Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Leon Rose 

The sources said the Knicks don’t feel pressed to present a substantial trade offer to the Nuggets because they think they can also sign Anthony after the season if he opts out of his contract, as expected. “If you’re New York, you just sit and wait until the offseason,” one general manager said. “That’s where it’s likely to go. Why give up assets to get him now when you can wait and get him next season?” Said another source: “If ’Melo is telling the world he wants to go [to New York], why fight so hard to get him? [Knicks president] Donnie Walsh knows this.” Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Leon Rose, Donnie Walsh