Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Indeed, at 11:50 a.m. Saturday, a Mavs source advised us that the rights to Jet had been renounced. Meanwhile, Terry was in Boston conducting a press conference … even though he hadn’t technically signed his new three-year deal worth about $5 mil a season with the Celtics. At 12:44 p.m. we asked another question of another Mavs official and got an answer that on the surface seemed to collide with the “renouncing” statement. “Don’t think so,” said the source of a Boston sign-and-trade. “But we’re always open to ideas.’
What the Mavs renounced was Jet’s Bird rights (the special ability to sign him and special ability to offer more money) — not the player himself. The Mavs, as we write this, still have the ability to sign him, via another method. And as their own free agent they can use him in a sign-and-trade if they have a way to do the “sign” part of the process. So we believe they still have their eyes on a sign-and-trade … but not a transaction with just Boston … and not just one that brings back Celtics junk … but instead brings back a prize in Jose Calderon.
DallasBasketball.com (via Hoops Hype)
I can’t get the full scoop on this report because it’s hidden behind a subscription wall on DallasBasketball.com.
If the Mavs end up with Jose Calderon (background info here), then the Celtics would be shipping players to Toronto. Exactly who goes (JaJuan Johnson, E’Twaun Moore, Mickael Pietrus, Sasha Pavlovic, Marquis Daniels) is unknown.
Another curious subplot is the delay in finalizing Jeff Green’s deal. Could altering Green’s salary in the first year allow them to throw more money at a player like Courtney Lee or OJ Mayo? Maybe.
The rest of the links:
Globe – Green, Wilcox eager | Ainge said “a lot of things” led to Allen departure | Herald – Ainge not done | A building boom lifts NBA’s East | Ainge addresses Ray Allen | ESPN Boston – Do they know it’s Christmas? | Putting the band back together | Leftovers from Saturday’s introductions |
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!