N.B.A. Thursday

News, notes, rumors, and some chat questions about the draft and college hoops with Kyle Whelliston and Andy Katz of ESPN.

News and Notes
Saturday
- Washington resigned DeShawn Stevenson to a 4 year deal worth 15 million dollars. Apparently, the Wiz couldn't sign a guard better then Stevenson, so they stuck with him.
- Chucky Atkins has agreed to a contract in Denver, and will replace Steve Blake, who signed a 3 year deal with the resurgent Blazers.
- Mo Williams will stay in Milwaukee, agreeing to a 6 year 52 million dollar deal. That means the Heat fell short in the proceedings and they'll go after a secondary option like Steve Francis. Blake was reportedly their 2nd choice after Williams.
- After losing Mikki Moore to the Kings, the Nets have signed free agent C Jamal Magloire to a contract. They've also waived Hassan Adams.
- Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson have been suspended for the first 7 games of next season because of their legal troubles.
- Top overall pick Greg Oden had to have his tonsils removed, which will take two to three weeks to recover. Oden will begin basketball again after that span.
Sunday
- Heat C Alonzo Mourning will return next year for one final season. He said that the final chapter in his career couldn't be a first round sweep at the hands of the Bulls.
Monday
- Golden State signed their first round pick Marco Belinelli, who performed quite well at the Las Vegas Summer League.
- Rehab is going well for Dwayne Wade, but he may not be ready for training camp, which means that he may not be good to go for the team's season opener.
Tuesday
- Detroit signed Senegal Center Cheick Samb to a contract. He performed well enough in Vegas to earn the deal.
- Houston signed Luis Scola after he was acquired along with Jackie Butler for Vassilis Spanoulis .
- Ron Artest, Maurice Evans, Theo Ratliff, and Etan Thomas were part of a league mission to feed the children of Kenya.
- Vin Baker has plead not guilty to drunken driving.
- Golden State has resigned G Kelenna Azubuike.
Wednesday
- Lots of news with Chinese players. 6th overall pick Yi Jianlian will not sign with the Bucks because of the lack of marketability and no Chinese people living there. If he's not traded, he could go back to the Chinese Basketball Association. The Chinese sports association also criticized Yao Ming because he reported late to the National Team's training.
- The Spurs resigned Fabricio Oberto
- The Albequerque Thunderbirds hired former Iona coach Jeff Ruland to be their head man.
- Travis Outlaw signed a 3 year deal with Portland.
- Stephon Marbury said that he'll play in Italy after his contract expires. No Italian will ever score a point ever again.
- Milwaukee has signed Jake Voskuhl to a 1 year deal woth 3 million.
- Kevin Durant has inked a 60 million dollar endorsement deal with Nike.
- LeBron James will host Saturday Night Live in its season premiere in September.

Rumors
- Washington may trade Juan Carlos Navarro to Miami for future draft picks, if he agrees to a buyout with FC Barcelona. The buyout calls for 3 million to be paid over 3 years. The Heat still has interest in Steve Francis. (Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
- If no teams claim Derek Fisher off waivers by 3pm today, the Lakers will sign him to a 3 year deal worth 14 million dollars. (LA Times)
- Memphis has interest in Ime Udoka and Matt Barnes. (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
- Aaron Gray and JamesOn Curry could play in the D-League next season. (Chicago Tribune)
- The Spurs could release James White and Spanoulis. Spanouils would like to play in Europe. The team would like to sign Udoka, and Tiago Splitter will play one more season in Europe. (San Antonio Express-News)
- Francis will decide soon whether he'll sign with Miami, Houston, Dallas, or the Clippers. (Houston Chronicle)

Draft and College Hoops with Whelliston and Katz
How well can Jared Jordan do in the NBA? Have their been any other pros from Marist?
Kyle Whelliston: I bet he sticks. He's an old-school point guard, and that's a commodity the NBA has too little of (like baseball and left-handed relievers). As for the other question: Rik Smits, of course!

How do you see the Big East shaking out this year?
Andy Katz: Here are my tiers: 1. Louisville, Georgetown, Marquette and Pitt. 2. Providence, West Virginia, Syracuse, Connecticut, Villanova, Notre Dame 3. DePaul, St. John's, South Florida, Rutgers, Cincinnati and Seton Hall. The tiers aren't in order within each number. But that's how I see it shaking out...a top group, a middle group and a bottom group.

N.B.A. Thursday

The free agent season has officially began, I'll get to all the transactions from the first actual day of signing. I'll recap last night's scores in all the summer leagues, and go through the latest rumor all on NBA Thursday.


Free Agent Frenzy
Thank heaven for Pistons fans, as they officially resigned Chauncy Billups to a 5 year deal that could be worth as much as 60 million dollars. This keeps the heart of Detroit in the motor city for a while. The sign and trade is now a done deal that will bring Rashard Lewis to Orlando. Seattle will recieve a 2nd round pick and a 9 million dollar trade exception. Phoenix signed Grant Hill to a 2 year deal and then traded James Jones to Portland for the rights to Rudy Fernandez. The Suns also resigned Sean Marks, and Portland bought out the contract of Steve Francis, who was acquired from New York in the Zach Randolph trade. Toronto signed former Miami sharpshooter Jason Kapono to a contract. New Jersey resigned Vince Carter to a 4 year contract worth 60 million. More on official signings on a saturday special.

Summer League Scores
Vegas League
Randy Foye scored 22 and Craig Smith added 21 as Minnesota beat the Spurs 78-69. Aaron Afflalo and Jason Maxiell each scored 21 as Detroit defeated Washington 84-70 despite 20 from Nick Young. Philadelphia edged Phoenix 104-101. Alando Tucker had 29 in the win loss for the Suns, while Louis Williams scored 23 in the win. Milwaukee defeated Seattle 92-85 as Noel Felix scored 27 for the Bucks. Kevin Durant did not play to be at the ESPY's. Good call.....
Boston embarrassed Team China 80-52 as as Leon Powe had 23 and 12 for the Celts. The Lakers pushed past Portland 81-73 as Javaris Crittenton scored 26 for LA.
Orlando Pro League
Charlotte defeated Orlando 95-77. Gabe Muoneke scored 31 for the Bobcats in the win, and JJ Redick had 24 in the loss. Indiana was all over New Jersey 90-65, as Andre Owens led the way with 23 points. Chicago beat the Heat 77-66, as Aaron Gray had 15 for the Bulls.

Rumors
- Houston, Dallas, Miami, and both LA teams are both interested in picking up Steve Francis. (Houston Chronicle)
- Dallas is interested in Chris Webber. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
- Where Morris Peterson goes may depend on how much he's offered rather then team situation. (Deseret Morning News)
- New Orleans is interested in Peterson, in addition to Utah. The Hornets are also looking at Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, James Posey, and Sasha Pavlovic. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
- Sources say that Derek Fisher will sign a 3 year deal to rejoin the Lakers. (Riverside Press Enterprise)
- Mo Williams have primary offers from Miami and Milwaukee, but could go to either New York or Indiana in sign and trades. (Miami Herald)
- Miami will turn to Steve Blake if they don't get Williams. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
- The Heat and Nuggets will be the main suitors for Blake. (Denver Post)
- The Bucks could also look at former players Desmond Mason and Jamal Magloire. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Brevin Knight, Chucky Atkins and Jason Hart are 3 backup PG options for the Knicks. (NY Daily News)
- Detroit has offered a contract to Amir Johnson (3/10) and the Spurs have shown interest. (Detroit News)

Lots of baseball tomorrow, ciao!