Free agent forward Richard Jefferson is en route to San Antonio this afternoon, where he is set to sign a long-term contract with the Spurs on Wednesday. Details of the new deal are not yet available, but his salary next season will be well below the $15.2 million he would have been guaranteed had he not opted out of the final season of his contract with the Spurs on June 30. - San Antonio Express-News
It's no secret that the Boston Celtics have a gaping hole in their roster for a defensive-minded perimeter defender. And in all likelihood, it'll have to be a player willing to accept a salary for the veteran's minimum. Sacramento's Ime Udoka may in fact be that player. Udoka, who will be 33 years old next month, is a player that the C's have had preliminary discussions about acquiring. However, his agent Mark Bartelstein, made it clear that no deal is imminent. "There have been some talks, but nothing close to being done," Bartelstein told CSNNE.com. - NECN
Basketball fans wrinkled their eyebrows at the news of Penny Hardaway announcing he was putting his name in the hat for a role player position with the Miami Heat last week. But Hardaway, who celebrated his 39th birthday Sunday, told the Orlando Sentinel he is not trying to make a grand return to the NBA. “That was something that I felt in my heart that I felt my talent would match well with those guys. I wasn’t trying to come back to the league, just that I could help in that role,” Penny Hardaway told the Orlando Sentinel Monday. “If it doesn’t work out, I’m going to stay retired.” - Orlando Sentinel
The Charlotte Bobcats made it official today, signing 6-foot-7 point guard Shaun Livingston. The team made Livingston available to local media. A couple of quick headlines: -- Livingston suffered a horrible left knee injury as a Los Angeles Clipper (while playing against the Bobcats). I asked how this affects how many minutes he can play and how often he can practice. Livingston said there's no "cap'' (his word) on the minutes he can play, but that monitoring minutes, along with a lot of maintenance work on his knee and the surrounding muscles, is now part of his routine. - Charlotte Observer
The Miami Heat continued their radical roster reshaping on Tuesday by signing journeyman forward Juwan Howard. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported it is a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $1.4 million. "This is a great addition for us," said Heat president Pat Riley. "We feel that Juwan's ability to play both the four and five spot will be complimentary to what we have put together. He also gives us incredible professionalism and is a perfect fit behind Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem." - Miami Herald
Andrew Bynum will undergo surgery July 28 to mend the torn meniscus in his right knee, the Lakers announced on their website. Bynum suffered the tear during the Lakers' opening-round playoff victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in April. His strength and mobility suffered as did his production, but he did not miss a playoff game as the Lakers went on to win their second consecutive NBA title. He averaged 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in the playoffs, down from his regular-season totals of 15 points and 8.3 rebounds. Bynum's surgery was said to be minor and he is expected to be fit by the start of training camp in late September. - Los Angeles Daily News
Then Rome asked whether Gilbert's role will need to change, and Leonsis repeated his contention that the Wizards will have one of the best backcourts in the NBA. He also said Gilbert's role will change for the better. "I think John Wall will add years to Gilbert's career," he said. "He'll lug the ball up, he'll run. Gilbert is a great shooter, Gilbert goes hard to the rim....John has great physicality and off the chart basketball IQ, and great players want to play with great players, so I think this was a great thing for Gilbert Arenas and his career, and I also think that Gilbert understands that he has to perform and step up. The best way to re-bond with the fan base is to come in happy and healthy and be a really really highly functioning trusted teammate and be very very coachable. And my bet is Gilbert can be all of that." - Washington Post
For the past week, Cleveland fans have been dropping off their LeBron-related items at Yours Truly Restaurants in Northeast Ohio. Miller said he and his friends wanted to turn a negative situation into a positive and that the response has been "extraordinary." "We wanted something good to come out of this," he said. "We didn't want another 'I hate LeBron campaign.' There's enough of that going around." Doug Libelich, manager of the Yours Truly location in Shaker Heights, Ohio, said there has been a steady flow of fans - mostly young ones - ridding themselves of LeBron-related clothing, including the iconic 23 jerseys, which were wildly popular during James' seven seasons with the Cavaliers. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
Will parents in Cleveland approve of their children sleeping on LeBron James? That question will be answered in the coming months, as American Signature, the company that signed the former Cleveland Cavaliers star in February, has confirmed to CNBC that it will continue with its plans to launch a collection of items inspired by James. "Our relationship with LeBron has not changed,” Jonathan Schottenstein, chief operating officer of American Signature, said in a statement provided to CNBC. “The youth collection by LeBron James focuses on his commitment and relationship with America's youth. We are looking forward to this introduction in the Fall.” - CNBC
Sources say that the Mavericks, meanwhile, have continued to register trade interest in Kaman, which happened as recently as earlier this month before Dallas’ flirtations with an Al Jefferson trade and its eventual acquisition of Tyson Chandler. - ESPN
Atlanta, then, stands as the only team with a confirmed “live” interest in O’Neal. But Shaq, at last report, still wants assurances of a healthy slice of playing time as well as a salary that starts above the $5.8 million mid-level exception, which can be achieved through a sign-and-trade with Cleveland. No team out there, including Atlanta, is known to be willing to pay Shaq more than $2 million for next season. - ESPN
The Clippers do have legit interest in McGrady and are scheduled to work him out Tuesday. As Clips general manager Neil Olshey told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne last week: "Tracy and I have a good relationship. We've known each other for a long time. He and Baron [Davis] have a good relationship [and] we obviously have a need for playmaking and scoring on the wings.” - ESPN
It's no secret that the Boston Celtics have a gaping hole in their roster for a defensive-minded perimeter defender. And in all likelihood, it'll have to be a player willing to accept a salary for the veteran's minimum. Sacramento's Ime Udoka may in fact be that player. Udoka, who will be 33 years old next month, is a player that the C's have had preliminary discussions about acquiring. However, his agent Mark Bartelstein, made it clear that no deal is imminent. "There have been some talks, but nothing close to being done," Bartelstein told CSNNE.com. - NECN
Basketball fans wrinkled their eyebrows at the news of Penny Hardaway announcing he was putting his name in the hat for a role player position with the Miami Heat last week. But Hardaway, who celebrated his 39th birthday Sunday, told the Orlando Sentinel he is not trying to make a grand return to the NBA. “That was something that I felt in my heart that I felt my talent would match well with those guys. I wasn’t trying to come back to the league, just that I could help in that role,” Penny Hardaway told the Orlando Sentinel Monday. “If it doesn’t work out, I’m going to stay retired.” - Orlando Sentinel
The Charlotte Bobcats made it official today, signing 6-foot-7 point guard Shaun Livingston. The team made Livingston available to local media. A couple of quick headlines: -- Livingston suffered a horrible left knee injury as a Los Angeles Clipper (while playing against the Bobcats). I asked how this affects how many minutes he can play and how often he can practice. Livingston said there's no "cap'' (his word) on the minutes he can play, but that monitoring minutes, along with a lot of maintenance work on his knee and the surrounding muscles, is now part of his routine. - Charlotte Observer
The Miami Heat continued their radical roster reshaping on Tuesday by signing journeyman forward Juwan Howard. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported it is a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $1.4 million. "This is a great addition for us," said Heat president Pat Riley. "We feel that Juwan's ability to play both the four and five spot will be complimentary to what we have put together. He also gives us incredible professionalism and is a perfect fit behind Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem." - Miami Herald
Andrew Bynum will undergo surgery July 28 to mend the torn meniscus in his right knee, the Lakers announced on their website. Bynum suffered the tear during the Lakers' opening-round playoff victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in April. His strength and mobility suffered as did his production, but he did not miss a playoff game as the Lakers went on to win their second consecutive NBA title. He averaged 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in the playoffs, down from his regular-season totals of 15 points and 8.3 rebounds. Bynum's surgery was said to be minor and he is expected to be fit by the start of training camp in late September. - Los Angeles Daily News
Then Rome asked whether Gilbert's role will need to change, and Leonsis repeated his contention that the Wizards will have one of the best backcourts in the NBA. He also said Gilbert's role will change for the better. "I think John Wall will add years to Gilbert's career," he said. "He'll lug the ball up, he'll run. Gilbert is a great shooter, Gilbert goes hard to the rim....John has great physicality and off the chart basketball IQ, and great players want to play with great players, so I think this was a great thing for Gilbert Arenas and his career, and I also think that Gilbert understands that he has to perform and step up. The best way to re-bond with the fan base is to come in happy and healthy and be a really really highly functioning trusted teammate and be very very coachable. And my bet is Gilbert can be all of that." - Washington Post
For the past week, Cleveland fans have been dropping off their LeBron-related items at Yours Truly Restaurants in Northeast Ohio. Miller said he and his friends wanted to turn a negative situation into a positive and that the response has been "extraordinary." "We wanted something good to come out of this," he said. "We didn't want another 'I hate LeBron campaign.' There's enough of that going around." Doug Libelich, manager of the Yours Truly location in Shaker Heights, Ohio, said there has been a steady flow of fans - mostly young ones - ridding themselves of LeBron-related clothing, including the iconic 23 jerseys, which were wildly popular during James' seven seasons with the Cavaliers. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
Will parents in Cleveland approve of their children sleeping on LeBron James? That question will be answered in the coming months, as American Signature, the company that signed the former Cleveland Cavaliers star in February, has confirmed to CNBC that it will continue with its plans to launch a collection of items inspired by James. "Our relationship with LeBron has not changed,” Jonathan Schottenstein, chief operating officer of American Signature, said in a statement provided to CNBC. “The youth collection by LeBron James focuses on his commitment and relationship with America's youth. We are looking forward to this introduction in the Fall.” - CNBC
Sources say that the Mavericks, meanwhile, have continued to register trade interest in Kaman, which happened as recently as earlier this month before Dallas’ flirtations with an Al Jefferson trade and its eventual acquisition of Tyson Chandler. - ESPN
Atlanta, then, stands as the only team with a confirmed “live” interest in O’Neal. But Shaq, at last report, still wants assurances of a healthy slice of playing time as well as a salary that starts above the $5.8 million mid-level exception, which can be achieved through a sign-and-trade with Cleveland. No team out there, including Atlanta, is known to be willing to pay Shaq more than $2 million for next season. - ESPN
The Clippers do have legit interest in McGrady and are scheduled to work him out Tuesday. As Clips general manager Neil Olshey told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne last week: "Tracy and I have a good relationship. We've known each other for a long time. He and Baron [Davis] have a good relationship [and] we obviously have a need for playmaking and scoring on the wings.” - ESPN
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