NBA - Sports Rumors

The Pittsburgh Pirates had scouts at the game involving the New York Yankees Friday night, fueling speculation the New York Yankees are considering a deal for Pittsburgh left-hander John Grabow, according to the New York Post.

With Damaso Marte's return from shoulder problems looking less likely, the Yankees could use a second lefty to complement Phil Coke.

Grabow, who is making $2.3 million this year, is 3-0 with a 3.75 ERA in 35 games. Lefties are hitting .262 (11-for-42) against him and righties are at .255 (24-for-92).

The Dodgers and the Rockies also had scouts on hand, according to the Post.

Source: New York Post

During a recent interview on ESPN, newly signed Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest(notes) said the team needed to be "hoodalized.''

There is a difference of opinion whether signing the veteran, physical forward to a deal was a good thing or a bad thing. The deal has been both ripped and praised in the Los Angeles Times for example.

However, the Times did note that Artest, like him or not, will fill a void for the Lakers, who were viewed as "soft'' during different junctures of the regular season and playoffs.

The Times wrote: A little more than a month ago Denver physically pound them (the Lakers) to tie the Western Conference finals at two games each. They obviously toughened up enough to win those next two games, as well as the Finals, but this move was done with an eye toward the Eastern Conference. Now they have someone to slow down LeBron James(notes). And Paul Pierce(notes). (And also Carmelo Anthony(notes) . . . can't totally ignore the West.)

Source: Los Angeles Times

Hedo Turkoglu(notes) appears headed to the Toronto Raptors, which could open the door for New York Knicks' guard David Lee(notes) in Portland, the New York Post reported.

According to the Post the Blazers have long coveted Lee, who also seeks $10 million per season, exactly the amount the Blazers are under the cap. Lee's agent, Mark Bartlestein said because Lee is restricted, the Blazers were fearful of waiting 10 days to see if the Knicks would match and instead jumped at the surer thing in Turkoglu, who then backed out of a seemingly completed deal and headed to Toronto.

Bartlestein claims he's talked to nearly 15 over-the-cap teams who have proposed sign-and-trade deals with the Knicks for Lee. But because he is a base-year compensation player, it is difficult to make the math work under the CBA.

Source: New York Post

The point guard-needy Philadelphia 76ers have an interest in Mike Bibby(notes), however, that interst in apparently not mutual, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the 76ers reached out this week to the agent for Atlanta Hawks guard Mike Bibby, only to find that the 10-year veteran is intent on staying with the team he played for the last two seasons, according to the Inquirer.

With the uncertainty of the Sixers' relationship with guard Andre Miller(notes) — he also is a free agent, and there are no signs that he plans to return — the team may be in need of a veteran point guard for first-year coach Eddie Jordan.

There is not much separating Miller, 33, and Bibby, 31, either in performance or contract requests. Bibby earned about $15 million last season, when he averaged 14.9 points and 5.0 assists and shot 39 percent from three-point range. Miller averaged 16.3 points and 6.5 assists and shot 28.3 percent from beyond the arc while earning around $10 million, the Inquirer reported.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

The Milwaukee Bucks are in the market for a replacement for traded forward Richard Jefferson(notes). Could Josh Childress(notes), of the Atlanta Hawks, be that man? The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Childress met with representatives of the Bucks Thursday.

Childress played last season with Olympiakos in Greece and has until July 15 to decide if he wants to opt out and return to the National Basketball Association. The Atlanta Hawks still hold his league rights and could match any offer made by another team.

According to the report, the 26-year-old Childress left Atlanta on difficult terms last summer, however, when he signed a three-year, $20 million deal with Olympiakos. It is possible he could sign an offer sheet with another NBA team, and the Hawks would then match it and work out a sign-and-trade arrangement.

It's unclear what assets the Hawks might be seeking from Milwaukee, but Hammond acquired two expiring contracts from San Antonio (Bruce Bowen(notes) and Kurt Thomas(notes)) in last week's trade that sent Richard Jefferson to the Spurs. The Bucks also have point guard Luke Ridnour's(notes) $6.4 million expiring contract.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Childress was in Atlanta on Sunday to speak with Hawks officials. He indicated he would explore his NBA options before deciding whether to return to Greece for a second season.

The 6-foot-8 Childress, the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft, might fill a Bucks need at small forward, one created with Jefferson's departure.

Childress averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in his last NBA season, appearing in 76 regular-season games.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

The Boston Celtics are pressing Rasheed Wallace(notes) — for a decision, according to the Boston Globe.

The Globe reported that Ray Allen(notes), Kevin Garnett(notes), and Paul Pierce(notes) joined president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck for a three-hour meeting with Wallace in Detroit yesterday, the Celtics offering a contract using their midlevel exception. But Wallace is apparently in no hurry to respond, preferring to weigh approaches from Charlotte, Cleveland, Orlando, and San Antonio, according to an NBA source.

Bill Strickland, Wallace's agent, said in a text message that it was a "very good meeting; some contractual terms discussed, nothing agreed to.''

Strickland added Wallace will be "meeting with a few more teams next week.''

Wallace is coming off a five-year contract with the Pistons, earning $13.68 million last season. The teams courting Wallace would be offering the midlevel exception, worth between $5.6 million and $5.8 million. So, Wallace's choice will be based on other factors, and the Celtics believe they have an advantage because of the forward's relationship with Garnett and the team's good chance to compete for a championship, the Globe reported.

Source: Boston.com

All-Star guard Allen Iverson(notes) has through representatives told the Grizzlies he would like to play in Memphis, an NBA source told the Memphis Commerical Appeal Thursday.

The high-scoring veteran is a free agent for the first time in his professional career. Iverson, 34, reportedly has only had mild discussions with the Miami Heat since the free agency period began Wednesday. There were also internet reports Thursday that the Chicago Bulls have interest in Iverson.

The Grizzlies had no comment about Iverson's inquiry.

While no deal is imminent and conversations have been only exploratory, Griz brass are said to be weighing the pros and cons of adding Iverson to the team's youth movement, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Iverson would certainly have to take a major pay cut from the $21 million he earned last season with Detroit. It is believed that the Griz would only entertain Iverson at what they'd deem a reasonable price, and if the 13-year veteran agreed to play off the bench.

Those criteria would seem to make Iverson and the Grizzlies a bad fit.

Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal

Shaquille O'Neal(notes) arrived in Cleveland uttering his new motto: "Win a Ring for the King.''

According to the New York Daily News, Shaq wasn't in Cleveland five minutes when he dropped his desire for an extension Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

The Daily News wrote: It's always been about the dough for O'Neal and he didn't hide his desire to get two more years after this one. That would take him through his 40th birthday.

"I've been in it for 17 years but I've missed three years because of injury,'' he said of his storied NBA career. "If you do the math, I've still got three years left. You got that? I've got three years left in my career," he said. "I have a lot left. There's only four or five good centers in the league and I'm in that number.''

Source: New York Daily News

Is playing in New York, rather than in Dallas, worth $12 million? Jason Kidd(notes) will have to decide if it is.

According to the New York Daily News, that is approximately the difference in the three-year offers Kidd received from the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks. A person close to the veteran point guard told the New York Daily News that the Knicks presented Kidd with a three-year contract worth approximately $18 million Saturday. The Mavs offered Kidd a three-year contract worth between $25 million and $30 million.

Kidd could take at least one more week to make a decision. Signings do not become official until this coming Wednesday. Mavs owner Mark Cuban is optimistic that Kidd will re-sign with Dallas, accoring to the Daily News.

The Knicks, who entertained Kidd on Wednesday, showed their commitment by offering three years. They originally planned to offer Kidd a one- or two-year contract but added a third year in order to stay competitive with Dallas.

Source: New York Daily News