Daily Thunder.com

Bosh sign and trade would be pretty easy to accomodate. Houston has a ton of decent roleplayers plus the NY picks. Toronto needs to save face for not trading Bosh at the deadline. For Toronto, it is assets from Houston or nothing if he goes to any other destinations. (Possible trade exception.)

Moot point, I don't think Bosh will choose Houston.

@Mark!

Alexander will spend the money.

Money has never been an issue for Houston.

Rockets could take on either of those players, but they'd have to add Battier's expiring to the deal.

I don't see how the Rockets resign Yao next year if that's the case tho. Only guaranteed contracts they'd have in 2011-12 would be Calderon/Martin/Ariza/Patterson/Bosh (+ anyone they extend/resign)

I'm not terribly frightened of that roster.

@ThunderHorn

Agreed. I can't think of any S&T scenario with TOR and HOU without the Rockets taking back Calderon or Hedo.

Raptors already have 1 overpaid player at SF they don't need 2. More likely Rockets would have to throw in Battier and Hayes' expiring deals and take back turk or calderon.

been reported that Morey offered Brooks, Hill, Jeffries, Anderson and one of the Knicks picks.

I think it'd take at least another pick, probably the other Knicks pick, to get a deal done and even then thats not incredibly appetizing to the Raptors. They just drafted Davis and they still have Calderon and Jack. Rockets would have to add more expiring contracts to the deal and be willing to take on either Calderon or Turk.

@justin
Weems was the starter by the end of the season. He surprisingly had some really nice games. Always thought he'd just be an athletic dunker and not much more in the pros.

@Greg

Demar Derozan? Ariza's overpaid and on contract too long. If they take contracts back they have to be competing. If they lose Bosh, that won't be the case.

A S&T with Toronto to a team over the cap I think they have to get rid of a bad contract to make it worth it. If it's with a team under the cap, they should go for a huge TPE. Otherwise, there's no point in even getting involve, imo...

I just don't see it... expirings don't really HELP the Raptors, it's still added payroll for no reason. They just drafted Ed Davis, do they really need Jordan Hill?

The best thing for them is if they could shed Jack or Calderon in an S&T with Bosh.

@justin
Toronto's SG is Sonny Weems. Ariza would be a signifcant upgrade. He was scorching the first couple months with Houston, and then had some troubles with injuries the better part of the season.

@justin

A few of Ford's recommendations are expiring contracts.

So Toronto then has Hedo and Ariza on huge dumb contracts? And Scola with Bargnani? Makes no sense at all.

They should either get a TPE or just not get anything and rebuild. They shouldn't add long term salary, that's the last thing they should be doing...

@justin
I'd take Ariza and Scola well before anything that Cleveland or Miami could offer. Chicago can offer Deng and another piece, but that's not any better than Ariza and Scola IMO.

But if Scola's contract complicated it too much for him to be in a S&T with Toronto, then Houston would be hard pressed to make the deal work. A third party is likely going to have to be brought in on a S&T with NY or even Miami.

Mark! :@justin
Ford suggested Brooks, Hill, Jeffries, Anderson

Doesn't TOR have Calderon and Jack under big contracts?

I don't see them as good trade partners. I think the Raptors would be best served getting a huge TPE from someone like Miami. I don't think they need to accomodate Houston, they won't get anything they need.

Gooden signed a 1 year $3 million deal last offseason. I don't understand the size of this contract. Maybe it has a two year team option, that would make a lot more sense.

@justin

Ford suggested Brooks, Hill, Jeffries, Anderson

@Greg

Taht's not enough for the Raptors, IMO. And Scola's a FA he's have to agree to a S&T as well and it's complicated because Scola would become BYC I think when he signs.

Nuggets are trying to pry Biedrins from GSW.

justin :I think it’s a long shot he ends up in Houston, and even if he does, Houston would lose something valuable in the S&T because the Raptors don’t have any reason to facilitate it unless they get something good back from them since Houston’s over the cap.

You mean like Ariza, Scola, and Jared Jeffries? Then you still have:

PG - Aaron Brooks
SG - Kevin Martin
SF - Shane Battier
PF - Chris Bosh
C - Yao Ming

Very dangerous lineup right there.

Gay and Lee will visit Twin Cities
9:38
AM ETMinnesota Timberwolves Top Email
UPDATE: ESPN's Chris Sheridan reports that Lee will also meet with Chicago and Miami on Thursday before heading to Minnesota, and will meet with the Nets soon as well.

---

The Timberwolves opened free agency Wednesday night by contacting forwards Rudy Gay (Memphis) and David Lee (New York). Gay will be in Minneapolis Thursday and Lee will arrive on Saturday.

"Those are the only two people I anticipated calling today," president of basketball operations David Kahn told the Pioneer Press. "That doesn't mean that we may not ask others to come in, but they clearly were the two players I felt we wanted to meet and wanted to get to know better and have an opportunity to have a dialogue with."

When asked about Lee visiting a team already with two power forwards, Kahn told the Star Tribune: "Our frontline is very much in flux. I don't know what will occur there. David Lee fits who we are or who we aim to be. He runs really well. He finishes strong around the basket. He's an exceptional passer. He and Kevin Love easily could play some minutes together."

Memphis can match any offer sheet signed by Gay since he's a restricted free agent. Lee has no restrictions on where he can sign.

I think it's a long shot he ends up in Houston, and even if he does, Houston would lose something valuable in the S&T because the Raptors don't have any reason to facilitate it unless they get something good back from them since Houston's over the cap.

This would be a NIGHTMARE:

Bosh likes idea of playing with Yao
9:44
AM ETChris Bosh | Raptors Top Email
"It's been an exciting first couple of hrs. Got some interesting visits and presentations from Houston, Toronto, Chicago and Miami. We'll see who else will come out tomorrow," wrote Chris Bosh on his Twitter page early Thursday morning.

"Just finished meeting with @chrisbosh -- great player & person. He is about winning so I focused on how w/Houston he can win a championship," wrote Rockets general manager Daryl Morey on his Twitter page Thursday night.

Most have Bosh going to Miami, Chicago or New York, however he could end up in other cities, like Houston via a sign-and-trade with Toronto.

The Houston Chronicle reports Bosh indicated through a third-party that he "definitely" would consider the Rockets and likes the idea of playing with Yao Ming and the chance to play on "a world stage."

@justin
Wonder why they didn't draft a PG? They got a lot of upside taking Sanders, Jerome Jordan, and Tiny Gallon.

Ridnour is a free agent.

@justin

He's an eight year vet. I think it is pricey for Gooden, but it isn't the $7.1M that Sacramento paid him a few years ago.

Is Green eligible to sign for MLE?

Albabycakes :And our first over-payment of the season goes to…..
THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS!!!
Drew Gooden(notes) has reached agreement on a five-year, $32 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The length of the deal is what is bothersome to me. He'll be a nice add for their frontcourt. Add him on top of Bogut, Ilyasova, Larry Sanders, Mbah a Moute, and Corey Maggette. They've got other capable wings like Delfino and CDR. Good PG depth with Jennings and Ridnour. They'll have the chance to have an even better season I'd say, if they stay healthy. If only Redd was anything like his former self, I'd pencil them in as a top 4 East squad.

Mark! :@justin
How does extended a QO to Brewer keep them from resigning Gay?

I don't know, that's just what I read in a Memphis paper. :)

Honestly, I have no idea.

@DizzyDai

It's overpaying, especially the years.

That's the full MLE...

Albabycakes :And our first over-payment of the season goes to…..
THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS!!!
Drew Gooden(notes) has reached agreement on a five-year, $32 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

$6.4M per year isn't horrible.

@justin

How does extended a QO to Brewer keep them from resigning Gay?

Wow.. that may be overpaying for Drew Gooden but he really completes that team. They needed some offense at the wing and a bit more inside. They got Maggette and Gooden.

The Bucks are going to be great.

justin :@Mark!
They must think they can re-sign Rudy Gay.

I'm sure NY or LAC will offer too much for the Grizz to match. Gay would be a nice fit with D'Antoni if they actually get some players there to follow.

And our first over-payment of the season goes to.....

THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS!!!

Drew Gooden(notes) has reached agreement on a five-year, $32 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

@Mark!

They must think they can re-sign Rudy Gay.

And can anyone explain the Ronnie Brewer thing to me? They traded a 1st round pick to Utah for the guy, had him for 5 games b/c of an injury, and let him walk into UFA instead of extending a QO.

A 1st round pick is worth 5 games from a defensive specialist on the wing?

New York is stupid for not getting an extension worked out for Lee last off-season.

First class Presti!!! That's how you show your superstar that you care. Show up on his doorstep at the very minute that free agency begins. Well done.

I wonder if they visited Jeff Green's house too. =)

Standard operating procedure on the kd thing. I'll be surprised if Durant isn't ready to sign his extension on the 8th.

Have you guys played around at all on the espn free agency slot machine? The thing I immediately noticed is that in nearly every scenario one or two teams are left with nothing.
Even though we've been hearing it for months, I think the pundits will still be floored by the contracts handed out. I just don't see how these owners can go back to their teams empty handed. I think Rudy and Amare both get max deals.

I just love that the organization showed KD what he means to us. No hesitation. I would expect nothing less.

Here's the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5343473
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STEIN_LINE_HQ: Thunder open free agency w/visit to Kevin Durant's new OKC crib to immediately open negotiations on contract extension. ESPN.com link on way

HOLLA!!!

@justin

never know, there are a lot of teams with cap space and teams will get desperate and throw a ton of money at these guys. Knicks in particular considering the past 2-3 years has really been about clearing money for this offseason to land a big name guy.

@ThunderHorn

Nobody will give Amar'e the max.. his max is even a bit bigger than other guys.

Amare getting the max is beyond stupid as well. He's an awful defender and has shown no signs of even caring about that side of the court and he's not a dominant rebounder for his size/athleticism. He's also had microfracture surgery, another knee surgery, and had a detached retina.

The only 2 guys worth the max are Wade and Lebron

Sounds like RJ might have opted out so that the Spurs could sign him to a longer term contract with slightly more dollars overall... but it'd help out the Spurs for this season obviously.

@justin

Woj reported that current Hawks owners were willing to pay max b/c they won't be the ones paying JJ after they sell the team.

Proof that there are a lot of people in the NBA who don't make good decisions.