Bobcats... news news news..update on Free Agents

Ok lets start this off...

Nowhere Near A Decion
Jul 2 - The Charlotte Bobcats pursued their most-coveted free agent early Sunday morning.
But so did at least seven other NBA teams. An NBA source Sunday said Gerald Wallace's agent was contacted by representatives from Dallas, Golden State, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Orlando and Portland in addition to Charlotte.

The source said Wallace was "nowhere near" making a commitment to any team at this point. -- Gaston Gazette


The Mavericks were among the first half-dozen teams to inquire about free-agent swingman Gerald Wallace, but it will be a long, difficult journey to acquire him.
It's also possible that other free-agent targets will be more obtainable.

Still, Wallace is near or at the top of the Mavs' wish list, even though acquiring him will take much more than the mid-level exception, which is expected to be between $5.8 million and $6 million. -- Dallas Morning News


and more

Long-Term Deal
Jul 3 - The Bobcats exercised the team options to retain Walter Herrmann and Ryan Hollins next season. However, backup center Jake Voskuhl exercised a player option to terminate his contract.
Voskuhl's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told the Charlotte Observer his client enjoys playing for the Bobcats, but is looking for a long-term deal. Voskuhl had a productive season, picking up the slack for an often-injured Primoz Brezec. -- Charlotte Observer


not quite done

Spurs, Cavs Interested In Carroll
Jul 3 - The San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers have expressed interest in Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Matt Carroll.
Carroll confirmed those names in a brief interview Monday with the Charlotte Observer. He said the Bobcats also called to express interest, and he was waiting for the team to make a formal proposal to his agent, Dan Fegan. -- Charlotte Observer

and finally

Knight Stunned By Release
Jul 3 - Brevin Knight told the Charlotte Observer Monday that he offered to take less money to remain a Bobcat. Instead, the Bobcats bought out the final $4.2 million season on his contract by paying him $1.5 million.
"If it was a money issue, we could have done something about that," Knight said. "I expressed that through my agent. What was their reasoning? I don't know."

He added he wouldn't have undermined Raymond Felton's ascension as this team's primary point guard.

"I was willing to do whatever they wanted me to do," Knight said. "I was not demanding anything." -- Charlotte Observer

Other news ...


The Nuggets' search for a point guard will lead them to Washington, D.C., today, where team vice president Mark Warkentien will meet with Brevin Knight and his agent, Bill Strickland.
The Nuggets are still in contact with free agent Steve Blake, who started at point guard for the team last season. Also on the team's radar are former New Orleans guard Devin Brown and former Memphis guard Chucky Atkins. -- Denver Post

SO there you go a few lil updates... I havent seen much new news... so I thought I would post what I could find.

 

Heard that the Bobcats may be looking to sign Darko to a contract as well. Orlando just renounced him after they realized they could not afford him after signing R. Lewis. Charlotte is one of only a few teams that can pay Darko.

 

Darko? Oh lord...

 

ESPN2 ran a crawl saying Carroll and the Bobcats agreed on 6 year deal....will try to get to the meat of this at practice on Wednesday.

So much for a day off.

 

I hope thats true... I like Matt very much. Thanks for the post Solarte! I used to watch you all the time when i was in Charlotte on News 14. Now I am in Charleston. Keep up the good work!

 

Sources: 6-year deal worth $27 million



Carroll agrees to long-term deal with Bobcats
Sources: 6-year deal worth $27 million



Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Matt Carroll told the Charlotte Observer early this morning he’s agreed to a long-term deal to stay with his current team.

On the runway in Chicago, leaving for a week-long trip to China for the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program, Carroll expressed how thrilled he was to stay with the Bobcats.

“I can’t describe how happy I am. After the Jason Richardson (trade) I didn’t think it would work out like this. I thought I might have to go somewhere else,’’ Carroll told the Observer.

A source close to the situation said Carroll will sign a six-year contract, worth roughly $27 million, when he returns from his trip to Asia.

Carroll said during the season his free-agency goal was primarily long-term security. He came to the Bobcats from the NBA’s developmental league two years ago. He improved so dramatically in that span that he spent most of last season as a starter, averaging 12.1 points.

However, the Bobcats made a draft-night trade, acquiring Golden State Warriors star Richardson, and his $51 million contract, in return for the rights to rookie Brandan Wright, the eighth overall pick. Richardson and Carroll both play shooting guard, raising questions whether re-signing Carroll was still a priority.

Bobcats managing partner Michael Jordan said last Thursday that re-signing Carroll was essential to the team’s depth. The Bobcats made good on that with their long-term offer overnight Tuesday.

Carroll also received interest from the San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers

 

Good news for the Bobbers.... now to get Gerald on board. The Knight release was a little surprising though. Are they that happy with McInnis at backup PG?


** Heard Jared Dudley signed today as well.

 

Now that Derek Fisher is available, that would be a nice pickup...

He asked to be released from GSW to be able to find care for his 10 (11) month old daughter who has retinoblastoma. Currently she is getting care at Columbia, but word is that hes looking around...maybe a Bobcat's signing and hooked up with care at the Duke Eye Center??

(Disclaimer; Drinking at 10 am on July 4th leads to incoherent thoughts and generally sounding like SDS)

 

Dudley is done.

Carroll 6 years/27 million (can't sign until 7-11)

PG is still wide open. Viable solutions are available in FA, but I wouldn't be surprised if McInnis is around to start the season. Boykins is out there as are others, including Billups. Vincent mentioned Billups by name on Monday when I spoke with him...not that it means anything...just passing that along.

 

Anyone else concerned that Carroll's contract might negatively affect things with Wallace? That's a lot to pay for a guy when you already have Richardson and Morrison. It's the kind of move I'd make if I was preparing for Gerald to not be around.