Over the course of the NBA Finals, the lineups on the floor have become progressively smaller. The result has been beautiful basketball: two skilled teams playing 4-out for 48 minutes. Read More. Written by Jonathan Tjarks on Jun 17, 2013
The Nets are losing hope that they can acquire Dwight Howard from the Magic, according to multiple sources.
Howard met with new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan on Friday, however, and requested a trade to the Nets.
Brooklyn is working to build a roster suitable to keeping Williams and that will likely mean they could not put together an attractive offer for Howard.
The Nets and Hawks are discussing a trade centered around Joe Johnson, according to sources.
Brooklyn would pair Johnson with a re-signed Deron Williams.
With no deal is close to completion, sources say the teams are discussing trade on multiple fronts.
Trading for Johnson would likely eliminate the Nets from their pursuit of Howard.
For Atlanta, trading Johnson would effectively be a salary dump of his $90 million over the next four years.
The Nets would have to piece together several contracts, including those of Jordan Farmar, who opted into the final $4.2 million year of his deal on Saturday, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro and a sign-and-trade with one of the Nets' free agents to make the exchange of salaries work for Johnson’s contract.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have extended qualifying offers to center Semih Erden, guard/forward Alonzo Gee and forward Luke Harangody.
Cleveland owns the right to match any offer sheet they may sign with another team.
Erden, 25, averaged 3.5 points on .527 shooting and 2.6 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game in 28 games (nine starts) during the 2011-12 season.
Gee, 25, averaged career highs in points (10.6), rebounds (5.1), assists (1.8) and steals (1.3) in 29.0 minutes per game in 63 games (31 starts) this season.
Harangody, 24, averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game in 21 games (one start).
The Wolves have announced that Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph will not receive qualifying offers.
Beasley and Randolph were once considered two of the more talented players from the 2008 NBA Draft, but have failed to meet expectations while with Minnesota.
Beasley was traded to the Wolves by the Heat in order to create additional cap space in 2010.
Brandon Roy has narrowed his list of free agent options to the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, according to sources.
Roy expects to meet with those teams over the next few days in Seattle.
Each of the teams have a special intrigue for Roy.
The rule will now be that players who are claimed from waivers will have the same "Early Bird" rights as if they had been traded, but will not have full "Bird" rights.