March 2014 Basketball Wiretap

Jimmy Butler, Bulls Moving In Right Direction On Extension Talks

Sep 30, 2014 11:00 PM

Jimmy Butler's representatives and the Chicago Bulls have started discussions on a possible contract extension.

"I want to be here," Butler said. "I think the Bulls want me here. So however long it takes, as long as we get it worked out. Basketball is my main focus, not really the contract situation."

Butler would become a restricted free agent next offseason if a new deal is not reached.

"They definitely are [working on it]," he said. "I think we're really good right now, moving in the right direction. But that's between them. I just got to be with my teammates and whatever I do between myself and that basket will handle that a lot easier.

"I don't really think about it too much," he said. "I grew up without money. I think I'll be all right for a couple more days. I just play basketball. That's what I know. And if you play basketball the right way, the contract situation will handle itself."

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Tags: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Blazers Exercise Fourth-Year Option On Damian Lillard

Oct 1, 2014 3:21 AM

The Portland Trail Blazers exercised their fourth-year option on the contract of guard Damian Lillard.

In two seasons, Lillard has averaged 19.9 points (42.7% FG, 38.1% 3-PT, 85.9% FT), 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.84 steals and 37.2 minutes per game. Only four players in NBA history have more points (3,257) and assists (988) in their first two seasons (O. Robertson, T. Archibald, A Iverson, L. James). Lillard’s 403 3-pointers through his first two seasons are the most in league history. He’s tied for eighth on Portland’s all-time list for 3-pointers (403). Lillard set a franchise record last season for the most 3-pointers made in a single season (218).

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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76ers Waive Pierre Jackson

Sep 30, 2014 6:22 PM

The Philadelphia 76ers have waived Pierre Jackson.

Mark Deeks writes that Jackson will receive a guaranteed $400,00 from the 76ers for this season while he rehabs from an Achilles tear that occured during Summer League.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Pierre Jackson, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Waiver

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Justin Hamilton Undergoes Procedure For Atrial Flutter

Sep 30, 2014 1:13 PM

Justin Hamilton underwent a procedure at South Miami Hospital on Monday to repair an atrial flutter.

After experiencing light-headedness during practice, he was sent to Doctors Hospital where the diagnosis was discovered. He will remain sidelined for a few days and can then begin non-contact exercises for approximately three weeks before being re-evaluated prior to re-joining the Miami Heat for practice.

Hamilton is expected to make a full recovery.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Justin Hamilton, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Injury

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LeBron Was Disappointed By Miami's Decision To Amnesty Mike Miller

Sep 30, 2014 1:11 PM

The decision by the Miami Heat in the 2013 offseason to amnesty Mike Miller drew the ire of LeBron James.

The move saved the Heat money while taking away a key locker room guy and rotation player with big game experience.

"LeBron thought it was an unnecessary change," Miller told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Miller signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason.

"I'm not saying I would have been a difference-maker," Miller said. "San Antonio was unbelievable last year and there are a lot of things that go into a season, but it was difficult for LeBron.

"It was difficult for all of us. It was difficult for me. I had to uproot my family and move again. It was tough. I think he was disappointed because he understands legacies and he understands what he wants to do in life. That's what makes him special."

Ira Winderman/Sun Sentinel

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Alonzo Gee Reaches Deal With Nuggets

Sep 30, 2014 8:24 AM

Free agent forward Alonzo Gee has reached agreement on a deal with the Denver Nuggets, a source with knowledge told RealGM.

After deciding on Monday to join the Nuggets, Gee will report to Denver training camp Tuesday.

As one of the best players on the available market, the 6-foot-6 forward brings active defense and athleticism on the wing for the Nuggets.

Gee, 27, has trained vigorously on his overall game and basketball shape in the offseason, when he was traded three separate times and ultimately released by the Sacramento Kings to open a roster spot.

Over five NBA seasons playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards, Gee established himself as a contributing role player, averaging 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in his career.

Shams Charania/RealGM

Tags: Alonzo Gee, Denver Nuggets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Thunder Look Forward For Opportunity To Re-Sign Kevin Durant In 2016

Sep 29, 2014 11:53 PM

Kevin Durant candidly discussed his present and future with the Oklahoma City Thunder, making it clear that he is pleased with the franchise's direction and likes his situation.

"We'll keep dancing around (the topic), and by the time it comes it's going to be even more awkward than it was, so it's not a surprise (that people ask him about it) because everybody wants to know," Durant said. "But I'm taking it day by day with the Oklahoma City Thunder. That's my main concern. And whatever the future holds, I don't know, because I can't tell you the future. I'm going to take it a day at a time. I enjoy being here. I enjoy my teammates. I like the direction we're going in, and that's not just a cliché (expletive) answer. That's real."

"I love OKC. I always wanted to be a part of something bigger than just basketball. And what I told myself coming into the league was, 'This city is going to adopt me, I'm going to adopt this city, and we're going to grow together.'"

For their part, the Thunder are confident about their chances to re-sign Durant as a free agent in 2016.

"We know it's there, and we are looking forward to it — the opportunity to re-sign a legacy player — especially when you consider where our team could be at that point, with two more years of experience and cohesion and taking that into account," Presti said. "We have to honor the season in front of us, because we have a tremendous opportunity to win right now and continue to build the tradition of the Thunder. We are fortunate to be in this position, and we want to capture and respect this moment. We have to put that anticipation in its place for now and not allow ourselves to get distracted from the present, regardless of what the future could look like for Kevin and the organization he has built with us, brick by brick."

Sam Amick/USA Today

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Rondo Wants To Stay With Celtics, Realistic About Short-Term Prognosis

Sep 29, 2014 8:57 PM

Rajon Rondo will begin the 14-15 season coming back from a left hand injury, but it will be an important year with free agency looming in July. A veteran of eight seasons, Rondo has assumed a leadership role with the Boston Celtics since the departure of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. He has also developed a good relationship with Brad Stevens, who replaced Doc Rivers before the 2013-14 season.

There have been rumors for more than a year that Rondo’s days with the Celtics are numbered, but on Monday he insisted that he wants to remain with the Celtics over the long-term. He even joked that he hopes to put an end to persistent trade rumors by negotiating a no-trade clause into his next contract, looking over at Danny Ainge with a smirk.

“Yes,” Rondo replied with conviction when asked if he wants to re-sign with the Celtics. “The fans and the people here are the ones that make me want to stay. I can’t say enough about Danny and Wyc [Grousbeck], but when I’m out there on the street the whole community embraces me.”

Rondo could command a max contract as an outright free agent next summer, something he admitted during the team’s annual media day that he believes he deserves. He was the starting point guard for a championship team as a second-year player back in 2008, but he's aware that Ainge is currently working on a rebuild.

“I’m pretty smart, I know this isn’t a championship season,” Rondo said when asked about the team’s short-term chances.

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Tags: Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Turner Has Nothing Bad To Say About Pacers, Not Weighed Down By Expectations As Former 2nd Overall Pick

Sep 29, 2014 8:47 PM

Evan Turner was supposed to push the Indiana Pacers over the hump last spring, but they ended falling at the hands of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second-straight season.

Turner’s arrival, which came via a deadline trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, wasn’t the only thing that didn’t go Indiana’s way in the second half, but he quickly became one of the faces of the Pacers’ demise.

“I did the best I could. When coach asked me to do something, I tried my best to do it,” Turner said of his short tenure with the Pacers, which he knows many viewed as a disappointment.

“Whether it was bring the ball up, pass it off or anything else. The thing that put a big hit on it was that I wasn’t putting up 15 points per game. I feel like I took a big hit on that, but I just tried to fit in and shoot when I could. Rebound, play defense. A lot of times those things get blown up.”

In 27 appearances with Indiana, Turner scored just 7.1 points on 41.1% shooting in 21.1 minutes per game. For his career, Turner has averaged 11.1 points on 42.7% shooting. Never an efficient offensive player, issues were magnified in Indiana.

“I had certain scoring outbursts and then other nights I only shot three times or something like that,” the swingman said. “That’s just how the game goes and you go along with it.”

Turner was also involved in some controversy with then-teammate Lance Stephenson. A Yahoo! Sports report claimed that Stephenson and Turner fought during practice as the Pacers were preparing for the Atlanta Hawks, their first-round opponent.

“I thought it was a great experience,” said Turner, who refused to say anything outwardly negative. “Once again, surrounding the Pacers there were a lot of rumors, a lot of controversy towards them and it made things seems crazier than it probably was.”

Turner watched his value decrease as he entered free agency, eventually landing a two-year, $6.7 million deal with the Boston Celtics. The No. 2 overall pick in 2010, who will turn 26 on Oct. 27, insists that he isn’t trying to silence any critics.

“I’m not coming in here like I have anything to prove, I really just want to get into a groove and make the best of my opportunity,” Turner said. “That’s really it. I’m not trying to prove anything to anybody else; I’m trying to prove something to myself. I have to look in the mirror. If I tried to prove myself to other people, I’d probably go crazy.”

Turner said there were no discussions between his agent and the Pacers this summer about a potential return.

“No, we both kind of decided that we were just going to go our separate ways and that was pretty much it,” he admitted.

A polarizing figure at both of his previous NBA stops, Turner is comfortable enough in his own skin to know someone is always going to find something wrong with his game given the expectations with which he entered the league.

“Too much is given, too much is expected, that’s just the way of life. When it comes down to it you know there are a hundred ways you can attack the story of me and how my career is going,” Turner opined. 

“The one thing I always try to say is I’m getting better every year. I look at these past years, I feel like I’ve made jumps. When it comes down to it, next to my name you’ll either say the No. 2 pick before or after, so things come along with that. I’ve always just tried to fit in the best way I could. It hasn’t been the 25 points everyone has been expecting and whatever occurred, but I’m just worried about what’s happening now.”

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Tags: Evan Turner, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, NBA

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Durant To Return To USA Basketball For 2016 Olympics

Sep 29, 2014 3:36 PM

Kevin Durant intends to rejoin USA Basketball for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Durant withdrew from the 2014 World Cup citing exhaustion.

Durant was previously with USA Basketball for the 2010 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, National, National Olympics

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D.J. Stephens To Sign Camp Contract With Pelicans

Shams Charania/RealGM

Morey Responds To Criticism From Cuban

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Markieff, Marcus Morris Agree Upon Four-Year Extensions With Suns

Marc Stein/ESPN

Chris Johnson Claimed By 76ers Off Waivers

Marc Stein/ESPN

Sources: Knicks Not Discussing Extension With Shumpert

Ian Begley/ESPN

Robert Sarver Still Regrets Allowing Joe Johnson To Leave Suns

Paul Coro/Arizona Republic

Norris Cole 'Ready' To Start For Heat

Barry Jackson/Miami Herald

Ricky Rubio, Wolves Continuing Extension Talks On Possible $11M Annually

Charley Walters/Twin Cities Pioneer Press

Nuggets Pursuing Alonzo Gee

Shams Charania/RealGM

Tyreke Evans To Miss 3-5 Weeks With Strained Hamstring

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Tim Duncan Hesitated Before Accepting $10.3M Player Option

Jeff McDonald/San Antonio Express-News

Cavaliers Trade Keith Bogans To 76ers

Marc Stein/ESPN

Brendan Haywood Cleared For Full Participation To Start Cavs' Camp

Jason Lloyd/Akron Beacon Journal

Julius Randle Gives Lakers An Ability To Handle Ball At Forward

Eric Pincus/Los Angeles Times

Luol Deng Forgives Danny Ferry For Racial Comments

Shandel Richardson/Sun Sentinel

Hornets Remove Jeffery Taylor Indefinitely From Team Activities

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Rajon Rondo Out 6-8 Weeks After Surgery On Broken Hand

Baxter Holmes/Boston Globe

Jason Kapono Agrees To Camp Deal With Warriors

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Christian Watford To Re-Sign With Celtics After Release

Shams Charania/RealGM

Thunder To Sign Michael Jenkins To Training Camp Deal

Shams Charania/RealGM