Wolves Waive Martell Webster

ESPN reports

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been engaged with the Trail Blazers for days in a back-and-forth dance to try and pry Nicolas Batumout of Portland.

And it’s not quite over yet.

The Timberwolves traded center Brad Miller and two second-round picks to New Orleans and waived swingman Martell Webster on Friday, all in an effort to clear enough cap room to sign Batum to a four-year, $46.5 million offer sheet with incentives that could push the deal past $50 million.

2012 Amnesty Clause

Here are the casualties so far

• Elton Brand — link
• Brendan Haywood — link
  
• Luis Scola — link
  
• Darko Milicic – link
• Josh Childress – link
• Chris Andersen –
• Ryan Gomes –

Pacers Sign DJ Augustin

Source

The Pacers officially signed unrestricted free agent point guard D.J. Augustin on Friday.

Augustin’s addition was necessary to fill the vacancy created when Darren Collison was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

“D.J. is an excellent pick-up for this team,” said Pacers’ GM Kevin Pritchard in a release. “He’s an amazing kid that will fit well here with the Pacers’ family. His experience will be valuable as we move our franchise forward. Our priority is to keep our own players and then to fill in the holes that exist. D.J. helps us accomplish that.”

Brooklyn Near Max-Contract Agreement with Brook Lopez

Adrian Wojnarowski writes

Restricted free-agent center Brook Lopez is progressing toward an agreement for a maximum contract with the Brooklyn Nets, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Nets president Billy King and Lopez’s agent, Arn Tellem, are finalizing the length of the deal – four years for $58 million, or five years for $78 million – and ironing out protections on the back end to account for a right foot that Lopez broke twice in the past year, sources said.

Spurs Keep Duncan, Diaw and Danny Green

ESPN reports

Tim Duncan, who declared himself “a Spur for life” in March, reportedly has followed through on his intentions to remain in San Antonio.

The 36-year-old franchise cornerstone has agreed to a three-year contract to return to the Spurs, Yahoo! Sports reported Tuesday. The website reported the contract is expected to be worth approximately $36 million, or in the same range of the deal that Kevin Garnett agreed to with the Boston Celtics last week.

Yahoo Sports! reports Duncan’s deal is fully guaranteed and the third year of the contract is a player’s option. The deal also includes a no-trade clause, the website reported.

Top Free Agents: Guards

List is mostly of point guards plus some combo guards who can play the point.

Top Ten Unrestricted Guards

#1 – Deron Williams - staying with the Nets

A top four PG in the league. Arguably the best PG in the game.

Certainly the most well-rounded point guard in the league. He is slightly above average to very strong at every single skill you want a PG to have.

#2 – Steve Nash - signed with the Lakers

Still a top five or six PG. Arguably the finest offensive PG in the league.

A terrific shooter and solid scorer and one of the best playmaking PGs in the league. A dodgy defender/rebounder.

Top Free Agents: Wings

This list consists of shooting guards, small forwards and combo forwards.

Top Ten Unrestricted Wings

#1 – Ray Allen - signed with Miami

A lethal shooter and a solid scorer. An average defender/rebounder.

Still one of the top ten or twelve best two guards in the league.

#2 – Gerald Wallace – has re-upped with the Brooklyn Nets

A very strong defender/rebounder with a alright but unexceptional offensive game.

Top Free Agents: Big Men

Top Unrestricted Free Agent Big Men

#1 – Kevin Garnett – re-upped with the Boston Celtics

The second best center in the NBA last season. A terrific defensive player, a solid rebounder, one of the best passing big men of all-time, an excellent high post player and solid face up and low post player.

#2 – Tim Duncan - staying in San Antonio

Still a top ten center in the NBA. A solid defender, well above average rebounder and an excellent offensive facilitator.

A lot like Garnett, Duncan causes havoc with his ability to play away from the basket with his high level passing, jump-shooting, pick and roll play while also still maintaining a capable low post game.

2012 Free Agency List

Unrestricted Free Agents

Guards:  Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, Jason Terry, Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, Goran Dragic, Andre Miller, Ramon Sessions, Delonte West, Lou Williams, Leandro Barbosa, Jamal Crawford, Jameer Nelson, CJ Watson, Baron Davis, Kirk Hinrich, Keyon Dooling, Derek Fisher, Nate Robinson, TJ Ford, Shannon Brown, Randy Foye, Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Anthony Carter, Ronnie Price, AJ Price, Willie Green, Carlos Arroyo, Gilbert Arenas, Jannero Pargo, Jonny Flynn,  Mike Bibby, Sundaita Gaines, Patty Mills, Sebastian Telfair, Earl Boykins, Patrick Beverley, Armon Johnson, Willie Warren, Roger Mason Jr, John Lucas, Royal Ivey, Gabe Pruitt, DJ Strawberry, Terrico White, Ben Uzoh, Ish Smith, Antonio Daniels, Travis Diener

2012 Free Agency Signings by Date

July 1st

• Omer Asik agrees to a $25 million three year offer sheet with the Houston Rockets. Chicago is not expected to match.
• Nicolas Batum receives a $45-50 million four year from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Portland is expected to match.

July 2nd

• Atlanta has traded Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar (expected to be bought out), Johan Petro, Jordan Williams and DeShawn Stevenson. They will also receive a protected first rounder from Houston from the Nets.
• Atlanta has traded Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz in a deal that sees Devin Harris go to Atlanta.
• George Hill has signed a five year deal to remain with the Indiana Pacers.
• Andre Miller has signed a one year $3 million deal to stay in Denver.
• Lavoy Allen has signed a two year $6 million contract to stay in Philadelphia.
• Vyacheslav Kravtsov has signed a multi-year deal to join Detroit Pistons.

July 3rd

• Toronto Raptors have signed Landry Fields to a three year $20 million offer sheet. NY is not expected to match.
• Brooklyn Nets have completed a sign and trade for Reggie Evans. Three year deal.
• Mirza Teletovic has signed for the mini-MLE to join the Brooklyn Nets.
• Rudy Fernandez has signed a three year contract with Real Madrid (Spain).
• Semih Erden has left the NBA to sign with Anadulo Efes (Turkey).

July 4th

• Jason Kidd signs with the NY Knicks for three years $9 million.
• Hasheem Thabeet has agreed to a two year contract with the OKC Thunder.

July 5th

• Michael Beasley has signed a three year $18 million contract with the Phoenix Suns.
• Philadelphia 76ers amnesty Elton Brand and sign Nick Young to a $6 million one year contract.
• Jeremy Lin signs a $29 million four year offer sheet with the Houston Rockets. The Knicks can match this offer if they wish.
• The LA Clippers have signed Jamal Crawford and Chauncey Billups. Crawford is expected to sign a three year $15 million contract while Chauncey Billups is expected to net up to $4.3 million for one season.
• Orlando exercise their team option on JJ Redick’s contract.
• Jameer Nelson has re-signed with the Orlando Magic. Details unknown.
• Jeremy Evans has signed a three year $5.5 million deal with the Utah Jazz.

July 6th

• Ray Allen has signed a three year $9 million deal with the Miami Heat to the chagrin of Boston’s fan base.
• Brandon Roy has signed a two year $10 million deal to go to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• Marreese Speights has signed a two year $9 million contract.
• Portland has completed the buyout of Shawn Williams making him an unrestricted free agent.

July 7th

• Phoenix withdraws qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks making him an unrestricted free agent.
• Milwaukee re-signs Ersan Ilyasova to a huge $45 million 5 year deal.
• Aaron Gray has signed a two year contract with the Toronto Raptors. Terms unknown.

July 8th

• Kirk Hinrich has accepted a two year $6 million deal to return to the Chicago Bulls.

July 9th

• Jason Thompson has signed a multi-year deal with the Sacramento Kings believed to have a starting salary of around $6 million.

July 10th

• Tim Duncan, Danny Green and Boris Diaw have all agreed to stay in San Antonio. Duncan signed for a three year $36 million contract. Diaw has a two year $9.1 million extension. Danny Green got three years $11 million.
• Lou Williams has signed a multi-year MLE deal to join the Atlanta Hawks.
• JR Smith has signed a two year $2.8 million deal to stay in New York with the Knicks.
• Rashard Lewis signs with the Miami Heat on a two-year deal.
• Jerryd Bayless signs an undisclosed contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.

July 11th

• JJ Hickson has signed a one year contract with the Portland Trailblazers.
• Jerry Stackhouse signs with the Brooklyn Nets to a minimum contract.
• Pablo Prigioni has joined the NY Knicks.

July 12th

• Brook Lopez agrees to a 4 year $61 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
• Dallas Mavericks has made a sign and trade that will send Ian Mahinmi ($16 million, four years) to the Indiana Pacers in return for Darren Collison.
• Chris Kaman has signed a one year $8 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
• Ramon Sessions has signed a two year deal with the Charlotte Bobcats. Terms unknown.
• DJ Augustin has signed a one year deal with the Indiana Pacers after the Charlotte Bobcats withdrew their qualifying offer.
• Kyle Singler has signed a 3 year contract with the Detroit Pistons.

July 13th

• Kwame Brown has signed a two year $6 million with Philadelphia.
• Elton Brand is picked up off the amnesty waiver wire by the Dallas Mavericks for $2.1 million.
• DJ Augustin signs for $3.5 million one year contract with the Indiana Pacers.
• Chris Wilcox has reached an agreement to stay with the Boston Celtics.
• Martell Webster has been waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• Chicago Bulls have traded Kyle Korver to the Atlanta Hawks in a salary dump.

July 14th

• New Orleans Hornets have matched the Phoenix Suns four year $58 million offer sheet given to Eric Gordon to keep Eric Gordon in New Orleans.
• New York Knicks acquire Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas in a trade with the Portland Trailblazers with Jared Jeffries and Dan Gadzuric heading the other way.
• CJ Watson has signed a one year deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
• Brendan Haywood has been picked up on the amnesty waiver wire for $2.05 million by the Charlotte Bobcats.
• Darko Milicic has cleared the amnesty waivers and is now an unrestricted free agent.

July 15th

• CJ Watson signs with the New Jersey Nets for the veteran’s minimum.

July 16th

• OJ Mayo to sign with Dallas Mavericks. Awaiting terms of deal.
• Keith Bogans to re-sign with Brooklyn Nets.

July 17th

• Kris Humphries has signed a two year $24 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
• Grant Hill has agreed to a deal with the LA Clippers.
• Fran Vasquez has finally signed a contract with the Orlando Magic. It is a two year deal with an option on a third season.
• Antawn Jamison has signed a one year contract with the LA Lakers.
• Royal Ivey has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers,
• Washington Wizards have used the amnesty clause on Andray Blatche.
• Denver Nuggets have used the amnesty clause on Chris Andersen and have also signed Anthony Randolph to a three year $6 million contract.
• Jordan Farmar has signed a two year contract with Anadolu Efes (Turkey).

July 18th

• JaVale McGee has signed a four year $44 million contract to stay with the Denver Nuggets.
• Portland have matched Minnesota’s offer sheet given to Nic Batum.
• Vladamir Radmanovic has agreed to a one-year veteran minimum contract with the Chicago Bulls.
• Ronnie Price to sign one year deal with Portland Trailblazers.
• LA Clippers to use amnesty clause on Ryan Gomes.

July 19th

• Charlotte withdraw their qualifying offer given to Derrick Brown making him an unrestricted free agent.
• Boston have reached a sign and trade agreement with the Houston Rockets involving Courtney Lee heading to Boston with JaJuan Johnson, E’twaun Moore, Sean Williams and a draft pick heading to Houston.

July 20th

• Jordan Hill re-signs with the LA Lakers for a two year $8 million deal.
• Shannon Brown has signed a two year $7 million deal with the Phoenix Suns.

July 21st

• Greg Stiemsma has signed an offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Boston are not expected to match. Terms of the deal are yet to be declared.
• Jason Collins signs for the minimum with the Boston Celtics.
• Cleveland Cavaliers have claimed Jon Leuer off the waiver wire (Houston Rockets).

July 22nd

• No player movement today

July 23rd

• Nazr Mohammed and Marco Belinelli sign for the Chicago Bulls for the veteran’s minimum and a one year $2 million deal respectively.
• Randy Foye signs a one year $2.5 million contract with the Utah Jazz.
• Ryan Hollins signs with the LA Clippers on a minimum contract.

July 24th

• Ronnie Brewer signed a one year deal to play for the New York Knicks.
• Delonte West has signed a new contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Terms of the deal are not yet known.
• Keyon Dooling has re-signed with the Boston Celtics for one more season.
• AJ Price signs a one year minimum contract with the Washington Wizards.
• Phoenix Suns sign PJ Tucker to a two year deal.

July 25th

• Andrei Kirilenko signs a two year $20 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• Ronny Turiaf signs with the LA Clippers on a minimum contract.
• Cleveland acquire Jeremy Pargo and the Grizzlies 2014 2nd round pick in a cost cutting move from Memphis that sees DJ Kennedy head the other way.
• Houston has officially signed Omer Asik after Chicago (as expected) chose not to match their offer sheet.

July 26th

• No player movement today

July 27th

• Royal Ivey signs with the Philadelphia 76ers for the minimum.

July 28th

• No player movement today

July 29th

• No player movement today

July 30th

• Carl Landry signs with the Golden State Warriors for two years $8 million.
• LA Clippers acquire Willie Green in a sign and trade with the Atlanta Hawks with the rights to Sofoklis Schortsanitis heading the other way.

July 31th

• Brandon Rush re-signs with the Golden State Warriors for two years $8 million.
• Nate Robinson has signed with the Chicago Bulls. Veteran’s minimum I expect.

August

August 1st to 5th

• Roger Mason Jr signs with the New Orleans Hornets.
• Craig Brackins has signed with Angelico Biella
• CJ Miles has agreed to a two year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

August 6th to 10th

• Joel Przybilla will be returning to the Milwaukee Bucks next season after agreeing a one year deal with the team.
• Dwight Howard has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a four team deal that sees … Arron Afflalo, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless, Al Harrington and a protected first round pick from each of the three teams heading to the Orlando Magic with Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson heading to Philadelphia and Andre Iguodala going to Denver with the LA Lakers receiving Dwight Howard, Earl Clark and Chris Duhon. Draft picks the Magic will receive are the Nuggets’ (2014), 76ers’ (2015) and Lakers’ (2017).
• Jodie Meeks has signed a two year $3 million contract with the LA Lakers.

August 11th to 15th

• Craig Smith has agreed to a contract with Hapoel Jersualem
• Alexis Ajinca signs one year deal with SIG Strasbourg (France).
• Devin Ebanks set to re-sign with the LA Lakers.

August 16th to 20th

August 21st to 25th

• Donte Greene agrees to deal with Brooklyn Nets.
• Martell Webster signs with Washington Wizards.

August 26th to 31st

• Hilton Armstrong signs deal with Panathianakos (Greece).

September

September 1st to 15th

• Jamaal Magloire has signed a one year veteran’s minimum deal to stay with the Toronto Raptors.
• Alonzo Gee has signed a three year $10 million contract to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• Damion James has signed one year deal with Atlanta Hawks.
• Josh Childress agrees to one year deal with Brooklyn Nets.
• Andray Blatche has joined the Brooklyn Nets on an undisclosed contract.
• DJ Mbenga has signed a one year deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
• Matt Barnes has signed a contract with the LA Clippers.
• Ivan Johnson has re-signed with the Atlanta Hawks.

September 16th to 30th

• Darko Milicic has signed a one year contract with the Boston Celtics at the minimum.
• Anthony Tolliver has signed a one year contract with the Atlanta Hawks.
• DJ White has signed with the Shanghai Sharks (China)

October

October 1st to October 15th

• Tracy McGrady has signed with Qingdao (China)