According to one published report, the New York Knicks are interested in Monta Ellis. Ellis, 27, recently turned down a two-year extension from the Bucks that would have paid him $11 million per year. The Knicks only have a $3.2 million mid-level exception to spend due to the salary cap.
However, Ellis’ agent Jeff Fried has indicated in the past that Ellis is willing to take less money to be on a contender. Also, the Knicks would have more money available if they lose free agent guard J.R. Smith.
According to a report on ESPN: Dwight Howard is scheduled to meet the Lakers on Tuesday afternoon. Howard has already met with the Houston Rockets, the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors. The Hawks are his hometown team, but it doesn’t seem likely he would sign there. The warriors are considered a long shot at best and there is no word as to when Howard will meet with the Dallas Mavericks.
Right now it is a three team race for Howard, The Rockets who appear to be the forerunners, The Lakers and the Mavericks.
The Knicks and Raptors have completed the trade that will bring Andrea Bargnani to Broadway.
Toronto will receive Knicks reserves Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and Quentin Richardson, who will be signed-and-traded. The Knicks are also sending the Raptors a 2016 first-round pick and two second-round picks.
Bargnani, the No. 1 pick in 2006, has two years and about $22.2 million remaining on his contract. The Raptors made the playoffs just once since drafting him.
The Nets fresh off their blockbuster trade with the Celtics signed their own free agent Andre Blatche to a one year 1.4 million dollar contract. According to a published report in the New York Daily News,Blatche’s return was critical, and it was just as important that he agreed to sign for the veteran’s minimum because it leaves the Nets with their mid-level exception to use on Kyle Korver or some other free-agent target.
So why would Blatche sign for less than his market value, the summer after he averaged an efficient 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds?
He’s still getting paid by the Wizards through the 2014-15 season – at roughly $8 million per — because he was waived via the amnesty clause. So, according to the rules of the CBA, most of the money he earns over the next two years will go to Washington, the team he feels abandoned him.
Blatche even said in March that gives him incentive to take less money.
“If I get a lot (in my next contract), yeah, it’s going to take pressure off the Wizards,” Blatche said. “But that’s why I’m not going to do that.”
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