NBA Rumors July 03 2009
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Marcin Gortat, the 6-11 center who helped Orlando reach the NBA Finals last season, has been offered a contract by the Mavericks, multiple sources said on Thursday. Gortat was expected to visit Dallas before the weekend, and the sources said that the only thing that would prevent him from becoming a Maverick is if the Magic match the offer, which is believed to be for the full mid-level exception - about $5.5 million.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' top draft pick, Ricky Rubio, 18, will remain in Spain to play for his DKV Joventut basketball team for the remaining two years of his contract rather than try to move to the NBA this season, El Periodico reported today. The Barcelona newspaper also says Rubio, who was paid $97,000 last season, plans to withdraw his contract lawsuit against DKV Joventut.
Suns General Manager Steve Kerr spent a few hours at Grant Hill's Orlando house on Wednesday to begin re-recruiting him, and team personnel put in calls to free-agent big men Antonio McDyess, Channing Frye, Sean May, Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox.
Among Danny Ainge's first calls was to Bill Strickland, agent for center-forward Rasheed Wallace. The Celtics' interest in Wallace is not for the long term, though. Wallace, 34, might be the most intriguing of free agent candidates, his relationship with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett a possible advantage. Charlotte, Cleveland, Orlando, and San Antonio have also shown interest in Wallace. According to Andy Miller, agent for Tyronne Lue - a reserve guard for Orlando who is close to Garnett - and forward Antonio McDyess, Ainge has expressed interest in both players.
Jason Kidd will have to decide whether playing at Madison Square Garden is worth forfeiting $12million. That is approximately the difference in the three-year offers Kidd received from the Knicks and Dallas Mavericks. A person close to the veteran point guard confirmed that the Knicks presented Kidd with a three-year contract worth approximately $18 million on Saturday. The Mavs offered Kidd a three-year contract worth between $25million and $30 million. Several league executives are convinced that Kidd is using the Knicks in order to squeeze more money out of Dallas. But a source close to Kidd claims that he is excited by the challenge of helping to turn around the Knicks. Also, Kidd believes that he could help lure LeBron James to New York if James becomes a free agent next summer. At least one of Kidd's former teammates believes the Knicks have a good chance of landing the point guard. Former Net Richard Jefferson said on Dan Patrick's radio show Saturday that Kidd's "gonna be a Knick."
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