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Hedo Throws a Curveball

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It was originally reported that Hedo would sign with the Portland Trailblazers.  It was also reported that Marion was close to a deal with the Raptors.  All that changed just now.

Source: Turkoglu changes mind on Blazers - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

Free agent Hedo Turkoglu(notes) has backed out of his commitment to the Portland Trail Blazers and could be signing with the Toronto Raptors, a source close to the talks told Yahoo! Sports on Friday night. Turkoglu had agreed on a five-year, $50 million deal with the Blazers, but changed his mind and could be headed for a five-year, $56 million deal with the Raptors. Toronto would have to renounce three free agents – Shawn Marion, Carlos Delfino and Anthony Parker – to create the cap space for Turkoglu. Apparently, the Blazers are already busy exploring other free-agent options for the $9 million in salary-cap space. Five years ago, Turkoglu was close to signing with the Phoenix Suns that now-Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo was running, but changed his mind and went to the Orlando Magic.

So now I believe that means Marion, Delfino, and Parker are all unrestricted free agents.

Tanguay reports:

I was told by a source close to the situation that Celtic restricted free agent Glen Davis is wanted by at least four other teams. Those teams are the Pistons, Memphis, New York and San Antonio.

I was also told that Joe Dumars wants him bad. It is no wonder considering Baby hung 20 points in 23 minutes on Dumar’s Pistons in January of 2008 in a Celtic seven point win.

It is my opinion only…I think it might be hard for Baby to turn down better money from another team.

I was told earlier by a source close to the Davis camp that the Spurs, Pistons, Grizzlies and Knicks were interested in restricted free agent Glen Davis. Since Zach Randolph has signed with Memphis it would seem they would no longer be in the Big Baby sweepstakes.

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Ariza trades places with Ron Artest

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More dominos falling into place.

The Globe reports:

The Boston Globe reports that a source close to the situation says Lakers forward Trevor Ariza has agreed in principle to sign with Houston in a five-year deal worth $33 million.

Also, Wojo is saying

After losing out on Artest and Ariza, the Cleveland Cavaliers are discussing a possible sign-and-trade deal for Toronto Raptors swingman Anthony Parker, two league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday night.

No deal is imminent, sources say, but talks were continuing.

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Ron Ron to LA LA Land

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CBS Sports reports:

Artest, whose versatility and toughness have made him one of the most coveted and combustible players in the NBA, told CBSSports.com Thursday that he's signing with the Lakers.

"I'm definitely going to L.A. -- to sign, yeah," Artest said in a phone interview. "Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I'm in L.A. right now."

"I don't really care about the money," Artest said. "I'll play there for nothing. ... L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me."

Well, that shifts the landscape a bit doesn't it? Feels like the theme of the offseason is The Rich Get Richer (in terms of big name talent). I wonder what this means for Odom and Ariza. I wonder who the Cavs will focus on next. In other news, it looks like Gortat is going to the Mavs. Still a lot of dominos left to fall.

At least one person, Kelly Dwyer, thinks it is a bad move for the Lakers:

The Lakers don't need him. His off-court palatables hardly matter. The Laker offense begs for players whose hands don't stick to the ball, and Ron's hands stick to the ball like no other. He's the wrong idea. He's a wasted face. He's the wrong choice.

Let that sink in.

He's the wrong choice.

Laker fans and bloggers are cautiously optimistic but pretty wary as well.  This shakes up a championship dynamic.  One pointed question: "If Phil Jackson can keep him in line, great. What about the next coach?"

Mark Murphy reports:

A league source confirmed this morning that the Celtics were trying to set up a meeting with Rasheed Wallace later today. The sit-down was said to be part of a series of meetings being set up with all of the teams interested in signing the free agent power forward/center. San Antonio and Cleveland — which introduced Shaquille O’Neal as its latest addition today — were also supposed to meet with Wallace today.

According to the source, the Celtics are willing to offer the full $5.8 million mid-level exception, but were only planning on offering the 35-year-old a two-year contract.

Wallace’s friend, Kevin Garnett, has been part of the recruiting effort, but he is not expected to be part of today’s meeting.

Update:

The Globe is reporting that an offer has been made.

An NBA source said that the Celtics offered Pistons free agent F/C Rasheed Wallace a contract using the mid-level exception today during a three-hour meeting in Detroit.

Update 2: Murphy tells us

Though Wallace is fielding these pitches relatively early in the free agency process, teams have been warned that he may take some time before making a decision.

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

Mission: Get Sheed

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Wojo continues to have the scoop (with a begrudging hat tip to Tanguay) on the Celtics pursuit of Rasheed Wallace.

Here's how badly the Boston Celtics believe Rasheed Wallace(notes) can be the difference in winning an 18th NBA championship next season: Coach Doc Rivers and the Big Three were planning a recruiting trip to woo him, possibly as early as Wednesday afternoon, league sources said.

The Celtics are targeting Wallace with the midlevel exception and sources say the team - which could be willing to pay a steep luxury tax - is also pursuing Phoenix's Grant Hill. Sources say that Celtics management met with Wallace late last night, and that they would be followed with a visit from the coach, as well Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Garnett and Wallace have a close relationship.

Boston officials are convinced that these next 24 to 48 hours are critical in overtaking the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference, and eventually, the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

Danny's at the door.

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Well, that just about confirms it.  If true, this proves that Rasheed Wallace is the Celtics top priority of the summer.  Via Wojo:

Sources say Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge and assistant director of basketball operations Leo Papile showed up on Rasheed Wallace’s(notes) doorstep just after midnight Wednesday to make their recruiting push.

"I know he is definitely considering playing for them," one league source said.

The Celtics also have expressed interest in Toronto Raptors guard Anthony Parker(notes).

Now I have to start looking for ways to justify this in my head.  You'll know I've come around to the darkside when I publish a post titled "Dr. Strangelove: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Sheed"

...I mean, his teammates usually like him so maybe he just gets a bad rep for how he yells at officials.  And when he's on he's really good.  Oh no, I'm doing it already.  Somebody stop me.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports:

Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon(notes) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva(notes) flew to Detroit on Wednesday morning for a mid-day meeting with team president Joe Dumars and indications are both are moving rapidly toward deals with the Detroit Pistons, league and sources close to the two players told Yahoo! Sports.

Gordon and Villanueva, both unrestricted free agents, would be significant strikes on the first full day of NBA free agency.

Gordon and Villanueva have history together, and are good friends. They played for the University of Connecticut, although never together. The Pistons have nearly $20 million in salary-cap space and it’s thought that the offers to these two players would come close to expending that money.

In other free agent news, it looks like Hedo is the Blazers top priority.

“The Trail Blazers’ summer agenda was revealed late Tuesday night at the minute the free agent market opened. That’s when general manager Kevin Pritchard and assistant general manager Tom Penn called agent Lon Babby to begin the courtship of small forward Hedo Turkoglu. `Kevin Pritchard and Tom Penn called me at the earliest possible moment and expressed enthusiasm for engaging in discussions about Hedo becoming a Trail Blazer,` Babby said late Tuesday night. `We have begun that process.`”

I think teams that have money to spend and are willing to spend it will do so quickly.  After that, players will be fighting for MLE money.