Keeping track of all the NBA moves

basketballgurulive.com keeps you up to speed on NBA free agency and trades, with the most recent postings added to the top.

TUESDAY

BUCKS RE-SIGN MBAH A MOUTE

The Milwaukee Bucks have re-signed free agent Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to a multiyear contract.

General manager John Hammond announced the move Tuesday, saying the Bucks had matched an offer sheet to the restricted free agent from the Denver Nuggets. Terms were not disclosed.

The 25-year-old Mbah a Moute averaged 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 79 games for the Bucks last season. He was second on the team in rebounds (420). The 6-foot-8 forward is entering his fourth NBA season.

— Associated Press

NETS SIGN FORMER DUKE STAR

The New Jersey Nets on Tuesday signed free agent forward Shelden Williams.

A five-year NBA veteran who has played for six teams, Williams has averaged 4.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 303 games. Selected out of Duke by Atlanta with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft, Williams was traded to Sacramento during the 2007-08 season.

He also played in Minnesota, Boston and Denver before landing with the Knicks last season.

— Associated Press

KWAME BROWN, WARRIORS AGREE TO DEAL

Free agent center Kwame Brown has agreed to terms on a one-year, $7 million contract with the Golden State Warriors. Agent Mark Bartelstein says the offer in Golden State was ''too good to pass up.'' Full Story ...

MONDAY

GASOL AGREES TO STAY WITH GRIZZLIES

Marc Gasol announced on Twitter that he has reached a tentative agreement with the Grizzlies keeping him in Memphis. The Memphis Grizzlies confirmed the agreement later, keeping a player general manager Chris Wallace called one of the franchise's cornerstones. Full story...

NO DEAL?

• Paul to Clippers? On or off?
• Kriegel: Stern coming up small
• Report: Lakers pull out of Paul deal
• Paul shows up for practice
• Stern explains reason for decision
• Heat's Big Three support Paul
• Rockets' Scola: 'It's funny'

REPORT: CLIPPERS REJECT DEAL FOR PAUL

The Clippers thought they had a deal. The pieces were in place, the teams had agreed on the players, and the trade — the kind you attach the word “blockbuster” to — was all but sealed.

But NBA commissioner David Stern, for the second time in less than a week, quashed a swap that would have brought Chris Paul to Los Angeles. Last week it was the Lakers. On Monday, it was the Clippers. Full story...

CLIPPERS WIN WAIVER BID FOR BILLUPS

The Clippers have won the waiver bidding for Chauncey Billups, who was waived by the New York Knicks under the NBA's one-time amnesty provision, two people familiar with the process who were not authorized to speak on the matter said. Full story...

REPORTS: BAREA CLOSE TO DEAL WITH WOLVES

After helping the Dallas Mavericks capture the franchise's first NBA title, free agent point guard JJ Barea is closing in on a deal to help Ricky Rubio learn the ropes in Minnesota. Timberwolves-closing-in-on-deal-with-JJ-Barea-121211">Full story...

CLIPPERS MATCH WARRIORS' OFFER TO JORDAN

The Los Angeles Clippers have matched Golden State's four-year, $42.7 million offer for centerDeAndre Jordan. Golden State signed Jordan to the offer sheet Sunday. As a restricted free agent, the Clippers had three days to decide whether to match the contract. Full story...

CARTER, WEST JOINING THE CHAMPS

The NBA’s abbreviated free-agency period has certainly been an active one for the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. That trend continued as the franchise announced the signing of free-agent swingman Vince Carter and reportedly agreed to terms with combo guard Delonte West.Full story...

CAVALIERS RE-SIGN PARKER

The Cleveland Cavaliers re-signed guard Anthony Parker. Parker averaged 8.3 points in 72 games last season. The 36-year-old veteran is a candidate to be Cleveland's starting shooting guard. Parker originally signed with the Cavaliers prior to the 2009 season. Full story...

RAPTORS LAND FREE-AGENT G CARTER

The Toronto Raptors agreed to terms with free-agent guard Anthony Carter. Carter has averaged 4.9 points, 3.9 assists and 20 minutes per game over 599 regular-season games. He's made 181 starts and averaged more than 15 minutes a game in nine of his 12 seasons. Full story...

SUNDAY

BULLS RE-SIGN VETERAN SCALABRINE

FREE TO GO?

Keep track of the top 10 free agentsand where they're signing.

The Chicago Bulls re-signed veteran forward Brian Scalabrine. The 6-foot-9 Scalabrine played in 18 games for Chicago last season and averaged 1.1 points. He is a 10-year NBA veteran and has averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 492 regular-season games. He's also participated in 39 playoff games.

SUNS FINALIZE HILL DEAL, SIGN TWO MORE

The Phoenix Suns re-signed forward Grant Hill on Sunday and signed guard Sebastian Telfair and first-round pick Markieff Morris.

The 39-year-old Hill averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 80 games last season, his fourth with the Suns and 16th in the NBA. He agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million contract Friday.

''I think ultimately, (it) was just liking it here,'' Hill said Friday. ''From Robert (Sarver) in ownership, to management, to the coaches, the medical staff. I like my teammates, I like the fans. There were some very attractive situations out there, but I liked it here.''

— The Associated Press

WEST AGREES TO TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH PACERS

David West is headed north to Indiana, where he will join forces with Danny Granger and former Hornets teammate Darren Collison.

West agreed to a two-year deal with the Pacers on Sunday that his agent, Lance Young, said was worth $20 million.

''Indy was a team that I was really giving a good, hard look at,'' West said in a phone interview. ''They've got a good balance in terms of a couple good veterans and some really good young players. There are some budding guys and I think that's a team that I can help in the next couple years.'' Full story...

KNICKS SIGN BIBBY, JEFFRIES AND TWO ROOKIES

The New York Knicks signed veteran guard Mike Bibby, re-signed forward Jared Jeffries, and inked their two draft picks Sunday, finally giving themselves enough healthy bodies to hold a normal practice.

With guard Iman Shumpert and center Josh Harrellson signing, the Knicks' roster is at 11 players. Most of their moves were on hold while they worked to complete a three-team trade that broughtTyson Chandler from Dallas to New York on Saturday.

Bibby could replace Chauncey Billups, who the Knicks used the amnesty clause on to waive so they could afford Chandler's four-year, $56 million contract. Full story...

Kobe Bryant is busting out new Grinch shoes for Christmas Day

Last December we brought you the frightening tale of Kobe Bryant's Grinch-styled sneakers, shoes he would only wear during the Lakers' annual Christmas Day game. Thank goodness.

This year? He's celebrating the holiday in terrible fashion, because these shoes are ridiculous. Sneaker Files, here are Kobe Bryant's Christmas Day-only shoes:

Video: Metta World Peace thanks Jesus for the way teeth work

With NBA training camps back in full swing, reporters are curious to get players' opinions on the state of things after the lockout. For Lakers forward Metta World Peace (nee Ron Artest), that means lots of people are asking him about how teammates are reacting to his new name. Melissa Rohlin of Lakers Now, the Los Angeles Times Lakers blog, asked why rookies call him "Metta" and veterans call him "Ron." The response is below, transcribed for ease of understanding (or lack thereof):

I'm just -- I'm most happy that Jesus Christ did not let me lose my teeth when I was 20 years old. 'Cause I was wondering, like, what if you kept your baby teeth until the age of 18 or 20 and then you lose 'em? That would look pretty bad. So I just think he's really brilliant, that you lose your teeth when you're a baby rather than losing them when you're like 30 or 20. That has nothing to do with your question, but that was definitely on my mind.

Thank you, Metta, for changing our lives for the better. May you keep your teeth forever.

WOW, NBA League Pass prices won’t dip down, as the NBA gives the finger to its fans

Based on the pro-rated comparison, with 66 games in the 2011-12 lockout-shortened NBA season as compared with the usual 82, the price for the NBA's League Pass package (which allows for fans to watch every televised game just as long as it is not on national TV, and not locally blacked out) should have gone down from $179 to $145 this season.

Ardent fans, thinking the NBA would throw the junkies a hit after dragging them through the mess of a five-month lockout, assumed the NBA would lower its prices even further. After all, it's those obsessive fans that drive the NBA. That pushes local ratings, drive up website hits, and let their faces flicker in front of NBA TV for hours on end.

Forget that, the NBA said. We're going to raise the price.

That's right, after holding steady at $179 for the last few years, the NBA has responded to the shortened season they created by holding serve in the United States (in a way) and raising prices for international subscribers. Because they don't care about you.

Steve Kerr tells Dan Gilbert to “get over it,” calls out the NBA for the Chris Paul situation

By pretty much any possible standard, the NBA has mishandled the Chris Paul situation in New Orleans, creating a state of affairs in which they only deal that could be deemed acceptable would put Paul in much the same situation he's in now, on a team with few other assets and little room to grow. Many people can be blamed for this mess, but Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert deserve special mention for writing a strongly worded letter to David Stern after the first trade with the Lakers was already set. Without that intervention, we might not be forced to deal with this storyline for the next few months.

At least one notable NBA commentator decided to call Gilbert out for his petulance. Here's what former Suns GM and current TNT analyst Steve Kerr had to say on San Francisco sports leader  KNBR (viaDeadspin):

Every one of them is wrong and I don't know how many there are either but I've been angry all day long about this whole thing because I think it was a great basketball trade. There are so many trades made these days that are lousy trades that are made for financial purposes. I mean I made one of the worst trades in NBA history. I traded Kurt Thomas and two first round picks to Seattle for nothing, to save 16 million dollars for our organization. Where was the NBA then to veto that trade for basketball reasons? That had nothing to do with basketball reasons. I understand what they're saying is they own the Hornets and ultimately they have the right to veto any move. Okay so from a legal standpoint I guess they're okay, but the problem I have is that this was a great trade for the Hornets. There's no way they can duplicate that. [...]

The Lakers make more than any team in the league so [Gilbert] would  have gotten all that tax money that he wanted or whatever. It's such a crock that he would even mention that. That guy is a billionaire, they have been way over the cap while they had LeBron, way over the tax. He's still upset that he lost LeBron and he needs to get over it. LeBron gave that franchise the best seven years they have ever had. He was a free agent and he decided to leave. Nobody likes the way LeBron left, even he apologized for it the other night on TV but the fact is there is a thing called free agency and if a superstar player wants to leave when they are agents, they can leave. That's their right."

It's worth noting that Kerr is maybe the only GM in history to resign instead of sticking around for as long as possible, so he clearly has some strong feelings on the actions of small-market hawks like Gilbert and Suns owner Robert Sarver. As Kerr mentions, general managers make cost-cutting measures because of ownership pressures and are never stopped for vague "basketball reasons." What made this case extra special? How can the league stand for that sort of hypocrisy?

Kwame Brown agrees to one-year deal with Warriors

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Free agent center Kwame Brown has agreed to terms on a one-year, $7 million contract with the Golden State Warriors.

Agent Mark Bartelstein says the offer in Golden State was “too good to pass up.”

The loss of Brown leaves the Bobcats with a hole at center. Gana Diop, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, is the only center on the Bobcats roster.

Bartelstein says Brown is “extremely grateful” for the opportunity the Bobcats gave him, adding that “it was a huge step to come back and play for Michael.”

LeBron James Gets Red-Carpet Treatment in First Trip to Liverpool (Photos)

LeBron James picked the right time to make his first trip to Liverpool, taking in Saturday's Liverpool-Manchester United clash at Anfield.

While James was treated to a high-energy battle between England's two most successful clubs, his Liverpool debut was not limited to the action on the pitch. Given the red-carpet treatment, LeBron got the full Anfield experience, touring every different aspect of Liverpool's iconic stadium.

From the training facilities, to the museum, to the gift shop, LeBron got a glimpse of the inner workings of LFC that few others are lucky enough to experience. Then again, being minority owner has its perks.

Click here to check out some shots of LeBron's tour of Anfield >>

Sick No-Look Over-Head Oop By Rajon Rondo

NBA lockout, who needs the NBA? The State Farm Big Blue All Star Tour is like a little band aid over our NBA ouchy…Here is Rajon Rondo hooking up with Kenneth Faried for an exhilarating alley oop late in the game….This is why we need a season

Kevin Durant Gets On The Mic With Westbrook As Hype Man

Don’t know to much about this video and the audio sucks but it’s clearly Kevin Durant on the mic.. Word around the league is that Kevin is nice, i will give my opinion when we get better audio.

Dwyane Wade’s comments prove just how detached players are from their fans

Recently, Dwyane Wade sat down with the Associated Press and gave his assessment of the hardened lockout. The Miami Heat guard insinuated that, while some teams may be ready to compete today, the other 20 teams are sitting on their hands because it is convenient to do so. He went on to say that many teams are still mad over the Miami Heat’s spectacle last season.

“I’m not going to say it’s all about the Miami Heat, but it makes it a little easier to sit on your hands. I’m going to say that,” Wade said. “It makes it a little easier for others to sit on their hands because I know, I’m sure, teams that have an opportunity and feel like they can compete right now, they’re ready to go. If 20 other teams don’t feel they have that opportunity, they sit on their hands.

Dwyane Wade

…on the NBA Lockout

Wade closed his statements by, not surprisingly, saying that all thisaffects the Miami Heat. Does anyone else matter?

READ FULL STORY

Has anyone told Dwyane that his super team was defeated by the Dallas Mavericks (a small market team by the way)

...and this guy can relate to his fans? PLEASE!

in last season’s NBA Finals? The current Heat dream team still has yet to win anything. They showed through three quarters of the 10-11 season that they were affected by the media heatand buffet of pressures that their coming together created. It’s possible that the Heat can thank the injury plagued Boston Celtics for not having enough in the tank to compete against them. Certainly, a healthy, balanced Celtics team would have defeated the Heat and likely went on to their 18th championship.

As for now, we are forced to listen to the likes of LeBron and D-Wade pounce their feet, try to act mature and selfless while the fans are being let down. Any fan that follows the game closely knows that a labor dispute such as this cannot be caused by just one side of the argument. However, as the players make more foolish comments, it becomes more and more apparant to the average NBA fan– one who is out of work or struggling to make their mortgage/rent payments, that the NBA players are spoiled, dillusional and more detached from their fan base than ever.

Mr. Wade, you had 3 of the top ten players on your roster and yet you barely filled your arena for the NBA Finals last season. Good luck filling those seats this (condensed) season. When you are playing in front of a room full of white tee shirts only, then you can tell the fan base what’s “fair” and what’s not. What’s “greedy” and what’s not. Good luck Mr. Wade.

DeShawn Stevenson’s Baby Momma Gets His Number Tattooed On Her Neck

DeShawn Stevenson is one of the most tattooed players in the NBA which is not an easy task.. Rumor has it that dude likes to brand his chicks.. Here is Samatha Fox, Stevenson’s baby momma with his number tattooed on her neck.. Props to Stevenson for making this happen.. 

U.S. Mayors Send Letter to Stern and Hunter

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14 mayors from NBA cities have sent a letter to Commissioner David Stern and union Chief Billy Hunter asking the men to solve their problems and end the league lockout.

WishTV8.com in Indianapolis received a copy of the letter:

“The mayors are worried about what a canceled season might do to their local economies.

And the first name on the letter is Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.

“We want them to get together and figure this thing out because its not just about them,” Ballard said. “Its about the people in the cities – the people who depend, their livelihoods depend, on them playing those games.”

The letter goes out as a message from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Ballard said the mayors are not taking sides in the dispute. Theyre just trying to make sure the league and the players consider what impact it will have on the teams’ cities if they dont reach a deal soon.”

Mayors from Indianapolis, Orlando, Sacramento, Memphis, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Detroit, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Denver pitched in to write the statement.