Roundup: Duncan staying put, Williams to Hawks
Philadelphia 76ers' Lou Williams (23) reacts with fans after making a three-point basket in the first half of Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls. (May 10, 2012) Credit: AP
The moratorium on free agents officially signing with teams was lifted at midnight Wednesday. And as expected, Deron Williams signed with the Nets, and Steve Nash was shipped to the Lakers.
The rumor mill is still churning, though, and figures to heat up now that teams can start to lock up players for the 2012-13 season. Here are some of the latest:
Hornets will match on Gordon
Despite his open disdain for New Orleans, Eric Gordon will likely be a Hornet next year. According to NOLA.com, the Hornets will match the four-year, $58 million offer sheet the Suns are prepared to offer Gordon. Should the Hornets match, the Suns will reportedly make a push at signing O.J. Mayo, currently the third-best free agent in Newsday's rankings who hasn't either signed or reportedly agreed to a free agent deal. (Brook Lopez and JaVale McGee are 1-2.)
So will Pacers with Hibbert, Knicks with Lin, and Bulls with Asik?
As was reported several days ago, the Pacers are likely to offer the same contract Portland offered to Roy Hibbert, and the Knicks are all but certain to match the offer sheet the Rockets extended to Jeremy Lin. Reports are now beginning to surface that the Bulls will likely match the Rockets' 3-year, $25.1 million offer to Omer Asik.
Tim Duncan will return to the Spurs
No, Tim Duncan won't be taking his talents to South Beach. As expected, arguably the league's greatest power forward of all-time will reportedly return to San Antonio on a three-year, $36 million deal.
Hawks agree to terms with former Sixers sixth man Lou Williams
The Hawks may have found a replacement for Joe Johnson. According to reports, Lou Williams has agreed on a multi-year contract to play for Atlanta.
