Free-agent buzz: McDyess eyes Spurs
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The San Antonio Spurs have emerged as the leader in the courtship of free-agent forward Antonio McDyess, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
San Antonio is one of three teams offering the full mid-level exception over two years, sources said. No deal is imminent, but it’s believed McDyess has offers from the Orlando Magic and possibly the Cleveland Cavaliers.
McDyess is considered one of the best unrestricted free agents on the market, and could complete a terrific offseason makeover for the Spurs as they retool for another championship run.
"He's definitely been wrestling with this [decision]," one league executive said.
Detroit president Joe Dumars still wants to re-sign McDyess, but needs to clear more space to make a competitive offer.
McDyess, 34, averaged 9.6 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Pistons last season.
The Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors are discussing a sign-and-trade deal for Shawn Marion,(notes) league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Dallas is dangling the partially guaranteed contract of Mavs forward Jerry Stackhouse(notes) to acquire Marion. Stackhouse, 34, has only $2 million of his $7 million salary guaranteed for this season, and whomever trades for Stackhouse can buy out the deal by Aug. 10. The Raptors aren’t likely interested in taking back salary in a deal for Marion, a former All-Star forward, so Stackhouse is an intriguing possibility.
It’s possible Dallas would have to sweeten the deal with cash and/or draft picks to satisfy the Raptors.
The Raptors were close to re-signing Marion until Hedo Turkoglu(notes) had a change of heart and agreed to a five-year, $53 million contract with the Raptors. Toronto needs to renounce Marion, Anthony Parker and Carlos Delfino to create the cap space to sign Turkoglu.
A third team could be needed for Toronto to keep Stackhouse's $2 million off the Raptors payroll this year, and allow them to sign Turkoglu for the full $53 million of his total deal.
After a midseason trade from Miami, Marion averaged 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds with the Raptors.
Los Angeles Lakers free-agent guard Shannon Brown(notes) has committed to re-sign with the team, a league source said on Monday. He will receive a two-year, $4.2 million contract with the second season at his option.
The Lakers were Brown's fourth team in three years in the NBA. The Charlotte Bobcats traded him with Adam Morrison(notes) to the Lakers for Vladimir Radmanovic(notes) midway through the season.
Brown played sparingly until late in the season, but was a valuable contributor off the bench early in the playoffs.
Free agents can't officially sign with teams until Wednesday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers met with forward Channing Frye(notes) on Monday, but a league source told Yahoo! Sports the Phoenix Suns are the standing favorite to sign the unrestricted free agent.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported the meeting between the 6-foot-11 Frye and Cavaliers management.
Frye also is seriously considering the Denver Nuggets, the source said.
The New York Knicks made Frye the eighth overall pick of the 2005 draft. He was selected to the NBA’s All-Rookie team, but never found a significant role with the Blazers, averaging 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 63 games last season. Portland did not make him a qualifying offer.
