Blazers á eftir David Lee

The Blazers and the agent for Knicks forward David Lee held July 4 talks following Hedo Turkoglu's stunning rejection of Portland's contract offer Friday.

The Blazers have interest in Lee, but still are not prepared to sign Lee, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet, fearful that the Knicks will match a proposal that would start at $9 million a year. That's great news for Knicks president Donnie Walsh.

HookUp:  NY Post

Artest vildi greinilega MJÖG mikið spila fyrir Lakers

Ron Artest has wanted to be a Laker for years and finally told Phil Jackson about how he could help the team after last season’s Game 6 loss in the Finals.

He was so eager, in fact, Artest approached Jackson in the locker room shower.

“Ron said, ‘Coach, I can help your team. I can help you get that championship,’ ” Jackson said.

Jackson told that story during an interview Friday on KLAC/570, shortly after he announced he was returning to coach the Lakers next season.

That awkward meeting could be the first of many unsettling moments between the sometimes volatile player and Zen-like coach. Jackson didn’t sound too sure about dealing with Artest on a daily basis.

“He’s an unknown. He’s a player that even I think his own teams don’t know exactly what he’s going to do that particular night,” Jackson said.

HookUp:  OC Register

Þetta var semsagt eftir 2008 úrslitin þar sem Lakers töpuðu fyrir Boston.

Knicks og Celtics á eftir Grant Hill

Grant Hill will receive the Jason Kidd treatment from the Knicks Monday, which includes, among other things, a tour of Madison Square Garden and a home jersey.

The one thing Hill won’t be getting is a three-year contract offer worth $18 million like Kidd received.

The Knicks are hoping to sign Hill, the veteran free agent forward, to the bi-annual exception - which is worth approximately $2 million per season. It’s a reasonable offer, but with the Hill being pursued by Boston and with Phoenix looking to re-sign him, the Knicks may be fighting an uphill battle.

HookUp:  Daily News

Ron Artest með MJ Tribute rapp

Nei, ég er ekki að ljúga... þetta er samt mun fyndnara en fyrirsögnin segir.  "Michael, Michael, Michael you my nigga!"  Hahahahah... klassík.  Hvernig er hægt að hata þennan gaur?

Trade slúður: Rip Hamilton fyrir Carlos Boozer

Talks continue between the Pistons and Jazz about a Carlos Boozer-Rip Hamilton trade. Hamilton didn't fit with Allen Iverson this season, and he won't fit with newly acquired Ben Gordon. In fact, Gordon has become Iverson. He has no conscience when taking shots.

HookUp:  News-Herald

It makes a ton of sense for Utah as well. They’d be able to go after Paul Millsap as aggressively as Oklahoma City plans to, while still getting value in exchange for Boozer. Hamilton would get back in a system where he plays with a true point guard.

HookUp:  DimeMag.com

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Produced by Dr. Dre...

Rasheed Wallace semur við Boston Celtics

An NBA source said tonight forward Rasheed Wallace has committed to sign with the Celtics Wednesday, the first day free agents are eligible to sign.

"Once (Wallace) had a chance to reflect on everything, and realizing what his objectives are, he just decided this was the best fit for him, all the way around," said Bill Strickland, Wallace's agent.

Wallace is expected to receive a two-year deal using the mid-level exception (expected to be about $5.6 million to $5.8 million).

HookUp:  Boston Globe

Spái því að Boston Celtics setji deildarmet í tæknivillum næsta vetur...

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Steve Nash til NY Knicks?

At the opening of his Vancouver health club, Suns point guard Steve Nash said he will meet with agent Bill Duffy next week to discuss his future. Whether that be a contract extension, trade demand or agreement to a waive him that would save the Suns $5 million of his $13 million guarantee.

Sources have told The Post Nash is unhappy in Phoenix.

Nash told The Post recently: "In a lot of ways it'd be amazing. But it's not simple. A lot of stuff has to go right for me to be in New York."

HookUp:  NY Post

Jason Kidd áfram hjá Dallas

As for Kidd, his two main suitors were the Mavs and Knicks — kind of suprising considering he was expected to be a target of contending teams with mid-level exceptions like the Lakers and Cavs. But Kidd was obviously more interested in long-term security than a one-and-done run at a championship, and the Mavs came through with a reported offer for three years at $27 million.

HookUp:  DimeMag.com

Phil Jackson verður áfram með Lakers næsta vetur

After receiving results of medical tests, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has announced he will return to coach the team for the 2009-10 season.

"After consulting with Lakers team internist Dr. John Moe, I feel confident that I can gainfully pursue an NBA season with another long playoff postseason. All things point to go!," said Jackson.

HookUp:  NBA.com

Turkoglu semur við Toronto Raptors

Free-agent forward Hedo Turkoglu decided Friday he won't be playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. Negotiations ended because, a source told The Oregonian newspaper of Portland, "It just wasn't the right fit."

Turkoglu, a 6-10 forward, turned down a five-year, $50 million offer from the Trail Blazers.

Instead, he likely will re-sign with the Toronto Raptors, Yahoo! Sports reports. His Raptors deal could be worth $56 million over five years.

And here's the kicker!

Turkoglu's wife wants to live in Toronto, a far more European-style city, according to the Yahoo! story. The Raptors have embraced the Euro game under GM Bryan Colangelo, building a roster that includes Euro talents Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani.

HookUp:  Sporting News

Ladies and gentlemen, Ron Artest!

Host: Did you get paid enough?

Artest: “People ask me about the money, I’m like, ‘Listen, first of all, I’m still getting paid. When I was in the hood, I was maybe getting like 50 cents a day. I’m still getting millions, maybe not the 90 you guys want. It’s still money. And also, I get a chance to possibly do movies, and acting, and TV shows, and all those opportunities that come with it. All that’s gonna come from winning.

HookUp:  Sports Radio Interviews

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Bulls reyna að fá Iverson fyrir Gordon

CBSSports.com has learned that the Bulls and Pistons may yet revisit Detroit's agreement with Ben Gordon and instead investigate a sign-and-trade that would send Allen Iverson to Chicago.

Discussions have not yet reached the highest levels of both organizations, but the revised look at how Gordon goes from Chicago to Detroit would benefit Gordon and the Bulls. Gordon would get an extra year, and thus more money, by signing with the Bulls and getting traded. The Bulls, who currently are getting nothing for losing him, would get Iverson -- a fading future Hall of Famer who would get to finish his career in a major market as long as he's willing to accept a secondary role.

It's a farfetched scenario, and not everyone involved would be on board -- particularly the Pistons. The major sticking point would be how to sweeten the deal for Detroit, which would only consider such an option if it would provide significant cap savings.

HookUp:  CBS Sports