Hawks make Cassell an offer....

[flava]

INSIDE THE NBA

Free agents to take center stage

By SEKOU SMITH

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 07/02/06

Peja Stojakovic will now hoist 3-pointers for the Hornets. Vladimir Radmanovic will post up for the Lakers. Jason Terry will try for a title with the Mavericks, and Sam Cassell is staying with the Clippers, who reportedly matched the Hawks' two-year, $13 million offer. With NBA free agency in full swing, here's our starting five of the top players still on the market after a busy Saturday:

NENÉ

Forward, Nuggets

While Ben Wallace and Al Harrington represent the established talent at the position, Nené offers teams a high-risk glimpse at what might be. His 2005-06 season lasted all of three minutes; He went down with a season-ending knee injury in the opener. But that won't stop teams from pursuing the 6-foot-11, 270-pound bruiser. While he's not a great shot blocker, he is a defensive-minded big man who can score and rebound. He has plenty of room for improvement and would help solidify any team's middle. Nené is a restricted free agent, so the Nuggets will have an opportunity to match any offers.

AL HARRINGTON

Forward, Hawks

Harrington is easily the most complete forward on the market. One of the league's top 30 scorers, he's a veteran who can play either forward spot, and score and rebound against anyone in the league. He arguably has the best value because he's relatively young (26) and can play in any system. Unlike Denver forward Nené (missed the entire season with a knee injury) and Seattle's Chris Wilcox (played well after being shipped to the Sonics), teams know what they're getting with Harrington. Expect his name to be tossed around early and often.

BONZI WELLS

Guard/forward, Kings

Wells is this summer's be-careful-what-you-pay-for free agent. If he's the player he was when he and Ron Artest tortured San Antonio in the playoffs, whichever team gambles on him gets a scoring machine who can also defend two key positions (shooting guard, small forward). His past, however, suggests otherwise. Wells hasn't fared well in stops in Portland or Memphis, where he ran afoul of the coaching staffs as well as team and league rules. There's usually always a team willing to take a chance on players with spotty reputations. And when they're as talented as Wells, the gamble could be well worth the trouble.

SPEEDY CLAXTON

Guard, Hornets

Claxton is poised to reap the rewards of a strong point guard class that has seen Terry and Cassell remain with their teams. Claxton is one of the last big-name floor generals available. He's more than capable of running a team and is just as effective playing in a reserve role, as he did behind Rookie of the Year Chris Paul last season. Claxton was at his best during the 2004-05 season with Golden State, when he started 44 of 46 games and averaged career highs in points (13.1) and assists (6.2) before being traded to the Hornets in the Baron Davis deal. He's just 28, so he should have plenty of productive years left.

BEN WALLACE

Center, Pistons

Anyone who says Wallace's stock torpedoed after his dismal showing against Miami in the Eastern Conference finals has forgotten his body of work the past few seasons. Even at this stage of his career, Wallace makes a borderline team a playoff lock and a playoff regular a contender. Sure, he's one-dimensional and the worst free-throw shooter not named Shaquille O'Neal. But when you can change a game without scoring, there's a market for that skill. The question is which team is willing to give him a huge salary. The Pistons might not, making a sign-and-trade a more viable option.

[flava]

2 years $13 mil is respectable...

just imagine if he would of took it - we'd likely make the playoffs for the first time since 99.

likely should have added a third or fourth year just to make it happen - we have a lot of inertia to overcome in the ATL...

flava

[DrReality]

If that is for real, it will let the other FA's out there that we mean business. Get their attention and make us players. Guess the info that Jason Walker gave us was not for real. Now who is next on the list?

[Guest Riv]

Even though he didnt accept our offer it is encouraging that we are making a valid attempt at signing a FA with all of the talk out there that we are going to be handcuffed due to the ownership debacle.

[jezmund]

I personally love the offer and would have been very pleased had he accepted.

[Scott]

Lakers, Clippers Make Moves

Radmanovic signs with Lakers; Cassell on the way out as Clippers sign Suns' Thomas

By Mike Bresnahan and Jason Reid, Times Staff Writer

4:13 PM PDT, July 1, 2006

The Los Angeles Lakers moved quickly Saturday on the first day of free agency, addressing their need for outside shooting by snatching away a piece from their cross-town rival by agreeing to terms with three-point specialist Vladimir Radmanovic.

The Los Angeles Clippers also reacted quickly after Radmanovic and point guard Sam Cassell apparently reneged on agreements to stay with them, reaching terms with sharp-shooting forward Tim Thomas early Saturday.

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Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy and the representatives of Thomas, a 6-foot-10 forward who revived his career with Phoenix late last season, completed a four-year, $24-million deal Saturday at about 12:30 a.m. The move capped a dizzying three-hour period in which the Clippers were informed Cassell and Radmanovic accepted and then rejected multi-year offers, sources said.

Radmanovic agreed Saturday to a five-year, $31-million contract with the Lakers, the same package the Clippers offered.

"At the conclusion of the moratorium period, the Lakers intend to enter into a contract with Vladimir Radmanovic," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said.

Radmanovic, who stretches defenses by luring post players away from the basket with his outside shot, has career averages of 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 38.1% shooting from three-point range.

Thomas, a nine-year veteran, who makes his off-season home in Los Angeles, played a key role in the Suns' run to the Western Conference finals. Thomas averaged 14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and made 37.8% of his three-pointers as Phoenix defeated the Clippers in the semifinals.

Free agents cannot officially sign contracts until July 12.

[Guest Riv]

some drama developing in la la land...I likey it alot! So if this is true, now what for Sam?

[vdunkndunk]

"Throughout the day, Cassell was weighing three options: a two-year, $13-million offer from Atlanta, a two-year, $11-million offer from the Clippers and a three-year, $12-million offer from Denver. After learning Atlanta was the highest bidder, Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy told Cassell to give him a number to get the deal done, sources said.

"Dunleavy received approval from Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling to increase the offer, and Cassell agreed to remain with the team he helped lead to new heights last season."

Link

[gsuteke]

Quote:

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"Throughout the day, Cassell was weighing three options: a two-year, $13-million offer from Atlanta, a two-year, $11-million offer from the Clippers and a three-year, $12-million offer from Denver. After learning Atlanta was the highest bidder, Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy told Cassell to give him a number to get the deal done, sources said.

"Dunleavy received approval from Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling to increase the offer, and Cassell agreed to remain with the team he helped lead to new heights last season."

Link

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Billy didn't offer him enough money IMO. the cap number would allow a 2 to 3 year 8 to 9 mil per contract to get us over the hump w/Cassell. another example of Billy dropping the ball IMO.

sure we pay 2 mil a year extra per year but we did the same thing to JJ in order to attract some FAs didn't we?

[SwingmanCentral]

From the LA Times:

In a day filled with innumerable twists, the local basketball landscape shifted, sighed and eventually settled as Vladimir Radmanovic left the Clippers for the Lakers, Tim Thomas left Phoenix for the Clippers, and Sam Cassell stayed where he was last season — as a Clipper.

The Lakers moved quickly on the first day of free agency by snatching away a piece from their cross-town rival and agreeing to terms Saturday with Radmanovic, a three-point shooting forward who has made a career of stretching defenses.

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The Clippers reacted swiftly after Radmanovic and Cassell apparently reneged on agreements to stay with them, then reaching terms with the sharp-shooting Thomas and making a push for free-agent guard Bobby Jackson as a back-up plan in case Cassell left.

But Cassell, the 36-year-old point guard and undisputed on-court general of the Clippers last season, late Saturday agreed to a two-year, $13-million contract, keeping intact a Clippers nucleus that lasted longer than the Lakers in this year's playoffs.

Free agents cannot officially sign contracts until July 12.

Throughout the day, Cassell was weighing three options: a two-year, $13-million offer from Atlanta, a two-year, $11-million offer from the Clippers and a three-year, $12-million offer from Denver. After learning Atlanta was the highest bidder, Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy told Cassell to give him a number to get the deal done, sources said.

Dunleavy received approval from Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling to increase the offer, and Cassell agreed to remain with the team he helped lead to new heights last season.

[CBAreject]

I don't want to be paying Sam Cassell 9 million dollars to play PG for us when he's 39....

[Diesel]

First off,I think 7.5 million is a good offer for an old man like Cassell.

However, what's more interesting to me is that Denver made Cassell an offer. Now this may have been just to keep Cassell out of LAC.. or this may have been an offer to make Cassell their PG. If it was to make Cassell their PG then it must be considered tht they may just trade Andre Miller.

I think that we ought to see what Andre Miller's trade availability is today!

[Peoriabird]

Quote:

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I think that we ought to see what Andre Miller's trade availability is today!

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Maybe Denver doesn't think that Miller is that good!

[flava]

I like seeing that we made the highest offer. Cassell on this team might be the difference from the lottery mediocrity to the playoff mediocrity this team needs. I'd also much rather have Cassell than Miller, if only for his leadership alone....

flava

[NJHAWK]

Denver papers are reporting that one of Cassells agents said the reports he signed back with the Clips are not true.

[VDiLetto]

If Denver offered Cassell money, then they must be shopping Andre Miller. Is it possible that Cassell was going to be part of a SNT with Al for Andre Miller and Nene? I get the feeling that BK is working a deal of some sort. I know we have heard the rumor with the Lakers for Mihm, McKie, and Cook but I really think he is going for a PG here. Can you even sign someone and then trade them like that? I guarantee that Denver is shopping Andre and I guarantee that BK has something up his sleeve. Yes he has made some questionable decisions but lets not forget that we have extraordinary amounts of financial flexibility because of him. We also have a good young core of talent to build on. IF we pull Andre Miller away from Denver, I think we will win 40 games next year.

[Wurider05]

I don't think that that they would move Miller until They got someone else in to replace him. I don't see them being a serious playoff contender with Earl Boykins as their startin PG and don't forget they traded Earl Watkins.

[Final_quest]

My question is what would we trade Al for if we signed Cassell?

We wouldn't need another PG. Would we be able to trade Al for the best talent available?

[Lascar78]

Quote:

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2 years $13 mil is respectable...

just imagine if he would of took it - we'd likely make the playoffs for the first time since 99.

likely should have added a third or fourth year just to make it happen - we have a lot of inertia to overcome in the ATL...

flava

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FYI Cassell has said that he wanted a 2 year deal, no more no less. So it was about money and teams, not years. He's said that he wanted 2 years and then retire. Honestly I didn't think we had any shot at getting him away from LA, but I'm glad that we tried.

[flava]

if that is the case, then we offered the right number of years and $2 mil more than anyone else...

a good attempt...

flava