Spurs Trade Rumors

"After drawing interest from a few top contenders, including the NBA's new champions in Boston, Michael Finley has elected to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs. NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Friday that Finley and the Spurs have reached terms on a new deal that has been submitted for league approval. Contract specifics were not immediately available, but sources say Finley's decision came down to a choice between staying with the Spurs or joining the Boston Celtics as the reigning champs' replacement for James Posey, who signed with the New Orleans Hornets earlier this summer. Sources say the two-time All-Star also drew strong interest from the Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers. ..."

"It appears the Hornets might be ready to live with Mike James as the backup point guard this season, allowing Jannero Pargo to sign with another NBA team, possibly the San Antonio Spurs. Pargo's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said the Hornets "don't seem interested in signing (Pargo) at this point. I don't think he'll be back with them." Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower on Tuesday declined to comment on any on-going negotiations with free agents. Pargo, 28, opted out of his contract with the Hornets this summer to test the free-agent market. Bartelstein said he really couldn't characterize the Hornets' interest or lack thereof in retaining Pargo, who last season was Coach Byron Scott's ..."

"appears Manu Ginobili could be leaning toward playing in the Olympic Games after all. After struggling all summer with a jammed left ankle that cast his availability for Argentina's national team in doubt, Ginobili told reporters in his home country he was optimistic he would be able to play next month in Beijing."

"Free-agent forward Eduardo Najera expects to know by Monday whether he might leave the Nuggets to sign with the New Jersey Nets. Najera was in Orlando, Fla., where the Nets are playing in NBA summer league, Thursday and Friday to meet with Nets officials. "Met with them just now," Najera wrote in a text message to the Rocky Mountain News on Friday morning. "Everything went great." Najera was asked via text if he will sign with the Nets. "Don't know yet," Najera wrote. "I will have a better answer by Monday.""

"The Raptors are expected to sign newcomers Roko Ukic and Nathan Jawai in the next few days, but veteran guard Carlos Delfino appears to be on the way out. Delfino, who averaged career highs in points (9.0) and rebounds (4.4) last season for Toronto, likely will not return, even though he received a qualifying offer from the club last month. Delfino is a restricted free agent, meaning that Toronto would have the right to match any offer he receives. But the Raptors are unlikely to exceed the NBA salary cap to keep him."

"It remains to be seen if the Nuggets, who also want to re-sign restricted free agent J.R. Smith, will spend enough to keep free-agent forward Eduardo Najera. Najera, whose preference is to re-sign, said early Wednesday evening he hasn't received any offers. Word is New Jersey has made Najera a primary target. General manager Kiki Vandeweghe had that job in Denver from 2001- 06. "Kiki brought me to Denver (in March 2005), and I know he does things the right way," Najera said. "He's trying to get a team to compete in the East. . . . I'm ready for any kind of offer. I'm excited if they're considering signing me." Najera named Dallas, Golden State, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, New Orleans ..."

"While Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, wouldn't say which teams were interested in his client, he did say they were contenders. Among those also expected to be wooing the Cleveland native are the Cavaliers, Wizards, Hornets, Spurs, and Lakers. "We're just working through this thing," said Bartelstein yesterday. "Free agency is just a moving roller coaster. He'd like to get something done, and he'd like to get something done quickly and be over with it. Every team that is interested has a chance to win a title." Although a Celtics official has denied it, an NBA source said Posey was initially offered a three-year, $12 million deal by Boston, but the source said the Celtics have ..."

"The Jazz's ability to land longtime Los Angeles Clippers swingman Corey Maggette is looking more and more long shot by the day. As many predicted earlier this week, the Golden State Warriors, with newfound money after point guard Baron Davis opted out of his contract and committed to the Los Angeles Clippers, now are in the mix for Maggette. Multiple reports today suggested as much."

"Meanwhile, the Warriors have a contingency plan to land another Clipper if Brand declines their offer, the sources said. Golden State is expected to join a number of teams to lure free-agent forward Corey Maggette, who opted out of the final year of his Clippers contract on Monday. The Philadelphia 76ers, according to the sources, may also bid for Maggette, who led the Clippers in scoring last season, averaging 22.1 points. The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz are also in the running."

"Three days into the NBA's free agency period, Corey Maggette is still talking to teams and weighing his options. It appears the free-agent swingman is heading into the holiday weekend a little bit closer to becoming a Spur than he was before the week began. A source close to the negotiations said Thursday that, though no deal is imminent, talks between the Spurs and Maggette are serious and the interest is mutual. The Spurs are believed to have offered Maggette a multi-year deal, starting with their $5.8 million mid-level exception. Maggette became an unrestricted free agent this week when he opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers."

"Najera has other suitors. One is Milwaukee, where Najera's former Oklahoma coach, Kelvin Sampson, is an assistant. "A reunion would be great," Najera said. "But I'm not ready for that unless the Nuggets aren't a possibility." Najera expressed similar sentiments about the Spurs and SuperSonics, who have contacted Fegan. Najera played in high school in San Antonio, and Seattle will move to Oklahoma City, where Najera lives. Dallas and New Jersey also have expressed interest. But the Mavericks, whom Najera played for from 2000 to 2004, might be out after agreeing to use their full midlevel exception on DeSagana Diop."

"The Spurs are expected to soon make an offer to free agent swingman Corey Maggette, if they haven’t done so already. After that, the wait begins. Maggette seems to be a popular man in the early stages of this summer’s NBA free-agency period, with as many as four other teams reported to have also contacted him to make known their interest. To land him, the Spurs will have to outpitch the likes of Orlando, Utah, Boston and Miami — all of whom have made Maggette an offer, according to various news reports — as well as any other suitors who might emerge in the coming days."

"The Lakers continue to wait for Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf, but they have fall-back plans in case their restricted free agents don't re-sign with them.The Lakers have talked with representatives of Boston small forward James Posey and veteran San Antonio sharpshooter Brent Barry to gauge the free agents' interest. Posey, a key reserve for the Celtics, is expected to draw the full mid-level exception of five years and about $30 million, though the Celtics have said they consider signing him an off-season priority."

"Two seasons after the Spurs unsuccessfully tried to trade for Corey Maggette, they appear to be trying to recruit him. According to two NBA sources, one from each conference, the Spurs are preparing to make an offer to Maggette, who became an unrestricted free agent Tuesday when he opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Details are not known, but the Spurs are believed to be poised to offer the 28-year-old guard-forward their full mid-level exception worth about $5.8 million for the first year, the sources say."

"If the Spurs emerge from the Western Conference playoffs and win another NBA title next season they might have to consider giving a playoff share to Baron Davis. Davis' decision to opt out of the final year of his Golden State Warriors contract, which would have paid him $17.8 million, has set the table for the Spurs to make an offer to Clippers guard-forward Corey Maggette, just the sort of athletic wing man they have coveted for the past few seasons. Should the Spurs make an offer to Maggette, who on Monday opted out of a deal that would have paid him $7 million next season, they won't have to worry about the Clippers negating it by using their "Larry Bird" rights to offer him a ..."

"The Rockets began the free-agent recruiting period with an 11 p.m. call to Spurs guard Brent Barry on Monday, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said, but the team might already have hit a snag in its plan to bring back forward Carl Landry. The Rockets telephoned Barry as soon as NBA rules allowed in an effort to land the free agent, who got away last season when he was released by the Seattle SuperSonics but chose to return to the San Antonio Spurs."

"Denver guard J.R. Smith, who has piqued the Spurs' interest in the past, is one such player likely to be available. He is a restricted free agent, but it is unlikely the Nuggets, who already are well over the luxury tax threshold, will be tempted to match a competing offer for him. Among the unrestricted free agents who might be of interest to the Spurs are Golden State guard Mickael Pietrus, Portland swingman James Jones, Boston guard James Posey and L.A. Clippers guard Quinton Ross. Carlos Delfino, a restricted free agent who appears to be on the way out in Toronto, is another potential target."

"Horry had told the Express-News that if he returned for a 17th season, he preferred that it be with the Spurs, but said there were "two or three" other teams for which he would consider playing. KRIV-TV reported that Horry said he would prefer to play in Houston if the Spurs opted not to sign him."

"The one who makes the most sense for the Spurs is the one with the least sense. That would be J.R. Smith, the flawed diamond of this summer's free-agent class. He has been everything the Spurs are not, and he also has everything the Spurs need. For one, he can dunk. So he's worth a look. And if the Spurs go in that direction on July 1, and if they interview Smith, then what follows will hinge on this: Can Gregg Popovich see something he likes in someone he shouldn't? Next season might hinge on it, too. The Spurs likely won't get enough from the draft to help them immediately, even if they find a way to move up. The other free agents are equally uninspiring. Role players are ..."

"Ginobili, who was hobbled by a jammed ankle during the Spurs' playoff ouster against the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last month, has not seen much improvement in the joint since the season ended three weeks ago. For that reason, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Wednesday he hopes Ginobili will give serious thought to sitting out the Summer Games. "My concern is that it's going to get worse," Popovich said. "He's got to seriously consider his health." Speaking to media in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, Ginobili acknowledged the injury was worse than previously believed, casting his ability to play in Beijing in doubt. "I believe this puts in danger my chances at playing in ..."

"The calendar and the weather may suggest otherwise, but the NBA climate has the feel of February. Much like the frenzy and wild speculation that serve as a prelude to the league's trade deadline, caution must be observed and logic exercised. With so many teams looking to improve and so many names being bandied about, it wouldn't surprise any one if one or two roster-altering moves are completed, perhaps more. Until the NBA final runs its course, no deal will be announced in an environment where there's no shortage of possibilities, some that appear to have merit."

"Two of the Spurs' big men, Robert Horry, 37, and Kurt Thomas, 35, are unrestricted free agents, but Splitter's decision figures to effect their situations. The Spurs should be expected to make a concerted effort to bring back Thomas, acquired from Seattle in a February trade. After a season in which he played only 45 games for a variety of reasons, Horry has contemplated retirement. Two days after the Spurs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Lakers, he said he was still "up in the air" about playing again. He said he prefers to remain with the Spurs if he opts to return. Ian Mahinmi, a 21-year-old power forward-center who spent most of the season with the Austin Toros of the ..."

"Detroit assistant coach and close friend Terry Porter is still believed to be Kerr's No. 1 choice. Kerr admitted that Porter's previous head coaching experience in Milwaukee "helps, for sure," and "I don't think anybody can know what it's like to be a head coach in the NBA until they actually have been one." But Kerr quickly pointed out that the other three candidates: San Antonio's Mike Budenholzer, Utah's Tyrone Corbin and Houston's Elston Turner all have significant experience as assistants. Kerr played for Budenholzer for four seasons in San Antonio and with Corbin in Phoenix."

"The Suns’ coaching search is winding to a close after Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer had his formal interview with general manager Steve Kerr on Tuesday in Phoenix. The meeting wasn’t nearly as long as Detroit assistant Terry Porter’s second interview on Monday. Kerr was back home in San Diego in time to take in the Cubs-Padres game Tuesday night. He said he doesn’t have any more interviews scheduled and there are no “surprise” candidates beyond the known finalists — Budenholzer, Porter, Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin and Houston assistant Elston Turner."

"The Suns' head-coaching search is nearing a conclusion, with indications that it will end with a choice that General Manager Steve Kerr long has had in mind. Each NBA general manager keeps a list of coaches he would consider hiring should a vacancy arise. Two sources say that Detroit Pistons lead assistant coach Terry Porter has been at the top of Kerr's list for a while and that Porter's position strengthened with the addition of center Shaquille O'Neal in February. Although San Antonio Spurs lead assistant Mike Budenholzer interviewed Tuesday in Phoenix, the finalists are considered to be Porter, Houston Rockets lead assistant Elston Turner and Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin."

"Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer got his long-anticipated job interview with the Phoenix Suns. Budenholzer flew to Phoenix on Tuesday to meet with Suns general manager Steve Kerr and other officials about that team's head-coaching vacancy. He emerged from the all-day interview session upbeat but with little clue as to whether his coaching future lay in the desert."

"Los Angeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw told the Orange County Register Monday that he’s been informed by Suns general manager Steve Kerr that he’s no longer a candidate for their head coaching position – and in the process pushed Terry Porter to the head of the class. In saying he was eliminated, Shaw went one step further than that, saying Kerr told him “He wanted to have a coach that had experience in terms of being a head coach.” If Shaw is correct, that would also eliminate Utah’s Tyrone Corbin and Houston’s Elston Turner from the Suns’ coaching derby as well as San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer – who arrives in Phoenix today for his first talk with the Suns. And it would leave ..."

"Detroit Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter will have a second interview with the Suns on Monday, and San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer should get his first chance to speak with Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr and vice president David Griffin on Tuesday. Porter’s Pistons were eliminated from the playoffs Friday by the Celtics, while the Spurs were knocked out Thursday by the Lakers. Porter had an initial interview with the Suns on May 15, prior to the Eastern Conference finals."

"The conclusions of the NBA conference finals have afforded the Suns a chance to have second interviews with Detroit Pistons lead assistant coach Terry Porter and a first visit with San Antonio Spurs lead assistant Mike Budenholzer this week. Porter is coming to Phoenix early this week. Suns General Manager Steve Kerr and Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin met with Porter in Detroit on May 15, when the Pistons had a break between playoff rounds. "I'm thankful I'm in the second-round process," Porter told reporters in Detroit before leaving town. "Go down there and do the best that I can do, and see how it plays out.""

"Three members of the Spurs' core, each a veteran of at least 11 seasons, will become unrestricted free agents July 1. Average age of Robert Horry, Michael Finley and Kurt Thomas: 36. Could a team hoping to get younger and more athletic seriously consider returning all three for next season? Finley, who started 61 games and increased his scoring average by more than a point over 2006-07, would love to return to the Spurs... Horry, 38, finished a disappointing season by never leaving the bench during the Spurs' Game 5 loss to the Lakers. Nevertheless, he said he's “up in the air” about retiring... Thomas, meanwhile, played his best game of the playoffs in the Spurs' final game. ..."

"Who is most likely to return? The Spurs, who have five players set to become free agents, have definite interest in re-signing Kurt Thomas, and that interest has only risen since Tiago Splitter's apparent decision to spend the next two seasons in Spain. They will also discuss re-upping with Michael Finley, though this runs counter to their need to get younger on the wing. Robert Horry, despite his protestations to the contrary, will probably wind up retired. Damon Stoudamire isn't expected back. The Spurs probably won't re-sign DerMarr Johnson, either, but it wouldn't be surprising to see them give him a shot in training camp."

"Spurs owner Peter Holt has a handshake agreement with Gregg Popovich that will keep him coaching the Spurs through the 2011-12 season, an extension of two seasons over the deal he had when the season began. He thinks Popovich has signed it, but isn’t certain. “He keeps telling me he’s too busy,” Holt said Friday, before the Spurs played the Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center, “but I think he finally did this week. It’s all right, though, because we’ve got a handshake, and with Pop, that’s enough.”"

"Hornacek will be interviewed this week by the Suns for a head- or assistant-coach job. He always figured to join the profession while growing up as a high school coach's son...The Suns are set to interview Houston Rockets top assistant Elston Turner Wednesday and Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin on Friday. The Suns also are expected to visit with San Antonio Spurs lead assistant Mike Budenholzer, but arranging an interview is tricky with the Spurs alive in the playoffs."

"Tyrone Corbin, Dwane Casey, Jeff Hornacek and Chuck Person will interview with general manager John Paxson this week at the Berto Center for the Bulls' coaching position in the wake of the franchise gaining the No. 1 pick overall in the NBA draft lottery Tuesday night...Throw in the fact Paxson has designs to meet with Lakers assistant Brian Shaw, Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau and other assistants still working in the playoffs, and this search still is expected to last well into June."

"Steve Kerr’s second week of searching for a coach for the Suns will include an interview with a former Suns player. But it won’t be Dan Majerle, Eddie Johnson or Tom Chambers. It will be Utah assistant coach Tyrone Corbin, who was the second assistant to Jerry Sloan for the last four seasons after a 15-year NBA career. Corbin, who has coached under both Sloan and Jazz veteran lead assistant Phil Johnson — whose name has also popped up in the Phoenix search — will likely interview with Phoenix on Friday...The Suns would like to talk with one or two people still involved in the playoffs, with names like Mike Budenholzer (San Antonio), Tom Thibodeau (Boston), Brian Shaw (Los Angeles) ..."

"Spurs assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey on Monday withdrew his name from consideration for the open general manager job in Atlanta. Lindsey’s name had been on a short list of candidates to replace Hawks general manager Billy Knight, who resigned May 7 — days after the Hawks were eliminated by the Celtics in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series. “I decided to withdraw my name from the interview process,” Lindsey said before the Spurs played the Hornets in Game 7. “It came down to family considerations, and the fact I’m just very happy with the Spurs and in San Antonio.”"

"More than a month into their coaching search, the Bulls have interviewed one candidate who has yet to accept a different job -- broadcaster Mark Jackson. So there may be a long way to go. Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin could be the next to speak to Bulls general manager John Paxson, since the Jazz have been eliminated. Other candidates continue to stay busy in the playoffs. Some names believed to be on the Bulls' expanded list of potential interviews are former Nuggets coach and Mount Prospect native Jeff Bzdelik, Rockets assistant Elston Turner, Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis, Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer and Pistons assistant Terry Porter. The Cleveland Plain-Dealer suggested that ..."

"Another Spurs playoff run, another run on Gregg Popovich’s coaching staff. After losing lead assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo to the Seattle SuperSonics after they won the 2007 NBA title, the Spurs may be in danger of losing assistant coach Mike Budenholzer to the Phoenix Suns. Budenholzer, who was elevated to the lead assistant’s spot on Popovich’s staff after Carlesimo’s departure, has surfaced in Phoenix as a possible replacement for Mike D’Antoni."

"There were reports that Spurs assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey would interview soon for Atlanta’s vacant general manager spot. Lindsey said before Thursday night’s game at the AT&T Center that he heard about the reports, but had not heard from anyone in Atlanta and did not believe anyone in the Spurs organization had been asked for permission to speak with him."

"But that doesn't guarantee Bill Self will never come back to San Antonio. If Gregg Popovich chooses to retire to a vineyard someday, and if R.C. Buford takes control of the franchise, here's what Buford will do that first day on the job."

"Though contract negotiations are far from completed, Bronx-born Donnie Walsh is headed to the Garden at season's end to become Knicks president and end the disastrous Isiah Thomas Era... If senior VP Glen Grunwald isn't retained, Walsh is expected to bring in a right-hand man to run the draft, with SI.com reporting Denver GM Mark Warkentien as a strong candidate. Warkentien drafted Zach Randolph in Portland and has a good relationship with him. Kiki Vandeweghe could join that mix, along with Detroit personnel men John Hammond and George David, and San Antonio's Dennis Lindsey all highly regarded."

"With two more big men possibly on the way, it would be difficult to envision Bonner’s role increasing next season. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the trading block before the end of next season, but that’s a ways off."

"Not long after the Spurs' 97-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at AT&T Center, Brent Barry made it as official as he is allowed to by NBA rule: It is his intent to re-sign with the Spurs, just as soon as those rules allow."

"Another day came and went with no indication about Brent Barry's immediate basketball future. Barry, waived by Seattle after the Spurs traded him to the SuperSonics as part of the package that brought Kurt Thomas to San Antonio, reportedly will either re-sign with the Spurs or join the Phoenix Suns, a team he twice helped the Spurs defeat in playoff series en route to two NBA championships."

"The Suns got another phone call and some more text messages Wednesday from free-agent guard Brent Barry but still no decision. Barry told teams he would have a decision Tuesday. He has remained torn between the opportunity of a significant playing role in Phoenix and his emotional attachment to San Antonio, where he has played since 2004, winning two titles and establishing a family home."

"It was mid-morning Tuesday, but already, the day had added layers of confusion for recently traded guard Brent Barry. Not long after he cleared waivers, having been released last weekend by the Seattle SuperSonics, the team to which the Spurs had traded him, he received a phone call from one of the elite NBA teams seeking his services for the remainder of the season."

"Suns General Manager Steve Kerr got to shake hands Tuesday with the NBA's most coveted free agent, Brent Barry, but there was no handshake agreement that Barry would join the Suns."

"Despite an in-person plea from Suns general manager Steve Kerr in San Antonio on Tuesday, Brent Barry remains undecided on where he will continue his basketball career for at least another day."

"And that gut feeling tells us Barry’s new team will look a lot like his old team. Our hunch is Barry, essentially rendered a free agent during last week’s wheelings and dealings that brought Kurt Thomas to San Antonio, will re-sign with the Spurs, even if he has to wait nearly 30 more days to do it."

"The race to land Brent Barry appears to be down to five teams, with the Spurs in the mix along with Phoenix, Dallas, Houston and Boston."