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I have been collecting info on all the players we seem to be high on and here is the skinny on all of them.
"Bulls Vice President John Paxson said he plans to match any outside offers for rookie guard Chris Duhon and fourth-year big men Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. All will become restricted free agents July 1. "If anybody wants to waste their time making offer sheets, they can go right ahead," Paxson said. "But no way is anybody going to steal these players from us. We intend to match whatever offer they get." South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Meanwhile the Lakers have asked Taylor for permission to talk to Saunders, as has another West Coast team Taylor didn't want to name. Taylor said the Knicks have not contacted him for permission to talk to Saunders, despite a report to the contrary in the New York Post. Taylor said the Wolves had a number of people apply for the coaching job, including all of the current Wolves assistants. However, the Wolves owner didn't think there would be a decision made on hiring the coach for at least 30 days." Minneapolis
The Post has learned one of Jackson's interests in returning to the NBA as a coach is eventually combining it with an ownership stake in the team he winds up with." New York Post
"Cavs superstar LeBron James is pushing team ownership to re-sign center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (not a good idea) and reportedly lobbying it to consider Nate McMillan, now coaching Seattle, as coach (not a bad idea). Shouldn't Gilbert start drawing boundaries on just how much power James should wield on team decisions? What's next? Will the Cavs change the team colors to green and gold because James sported them at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High?" Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Look for the Nets to dangle Kidd, with one possible destination being Los Angeles, where they need another star and someone to get the ball out of Bryant's hands. Lamar Odom, a throw-in like Devean George and a No. 1 pick to get a point guard would give the Nets a nice nucleus to build on for Brooklyn." Chicago Tribune
Don't be surprised to hear Kevin Garnett mumbling about his future address. The rumors around the NBA now are Minnesota would take a Shaq-like deal--three starters and a draft pick--for Garnett." Chicago Tribune
"Wells almost certainly will not return to the Grizzlies next season. The team has an $8 million option for the 2005-06 campaign that West likely won't exercise." Memphis Commercial Appeal
Swift is ready to go. He feels like he hasn't been afforded the opportunity to develop, and now he sees no reason to sign a long-term deal to play behind Pau Gasol. The Grizzlies hope to execute a sign-and-trade with Swift, meaning they'll sign Swift to a contract and immediately trade him to a team for a player or two or draft picks." Memphis Commercial Appeal
"Will free agents-to-be Damon Stoudamire and Shareef Abdur-Rahim be back? Their agent, Aaron Goodwin, doesn’t sound optimistic, though he says if Stoudamire had his druthers, he would stay. “It’s always been that way,� Goodwin says. “Unfortunately, the Blazers have positioned it as less of a want, more of a convenience. They say, ‘We’ll consider him at the right price.’ That’s not what anybody wants to hear. The more you read that, the less likely Damon will stay. What they should have said was, ‘The guy has re-established himself in the community, he’s still a good player, we’d love to figure out a way to keep him.’" Portland Tribune
"The Lakers are moving closer to rehiring Phil Jackson, sources have told The Post. One person with knowledge of the situation expects Jackson's official decision "soon." The Knicks have not been told by Jackson's agent, Todd Musburger, that they are out of the running and Isiah Thomas is still pursuing Jackson to coach the Knicks, hoping for a second meeting. However, sources say the Knicks have become giant underdogs in the two-team race." New York Post
"The only team that might change its stance is the Lakers. L.A. owner Jerry Buss has to at least consider the prospect of offering Lamar Odom (and parts) for Kidd because waiting around for cap flexibility in the summer of 2007 -- Buss' justification for passing on a Kidd trade last fall -- doesn't sound so attractive anymore after a 33-49 season. Buss is seriously testing the patience of his fan base if he thinks Laker fans can sit through two more seasons like this one before making a marquee acquisition." ESPN.com
"The Jazz have no plans to deal forward Carlos Boozer, Jazz owner Larry H. Miller reiterated over the weekend. "I can't imagine anything coming along that would have us trade him," Miller told KSL-TV Ch. 5's Tom Kirkland during an appearance on "SportsBeat Sunday." Miller was echoing comments he made last month regarding Boozer, the subject of a trade rumor involving the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the league's February deadline for dealing. On Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reported that "it looks as though (the rumor) may have originated with the Boozer camp." Boozer, who led Utah in scoring during his first season with the Jazz, did not play after hurting his foot Feb. 14 — just a few days after Miller publicly blasted his play. After meeting, the two sides later said amends had been made." Deseret Morning News
"Samuel Dalembert, who emerged as a key part of the Sixers future in these playoffs, said he wants to return next year - and then added an emphatic "But." "I would love to, but it's not up to me," said Dalembert, a restricted free agent. "This is a business and everybody knows it." Courier-Post
The Nuggets are expected to be slightly over the salary cap next season and likely will have only a midlevel exception ($4.9 million this season) to offer a free agent. Nene is under contract through the 2005-06 season with a $3.03 million salary. But the Nuggets can sign him to a contract extension this summer. If the Nuggets decide not to do that, he will be a restricted free agent in 2006. "It's just too early right now," Nene's agent Michael Coyne said. "Too many unknowns." Denver Post
"Greg Buckner might get a good-sized raise. Buckner's agent, Steve Kauffman, said Wednesday the Denver Nuggets guard will opt out of his contract in the summer and become a free agent. But Kauffman stressed
"It's very important to keep Jason Kidd happy," Ratner said. "He's the captain in more ways than the word captain. We share the same goal, which is winning. So I don't think there's a conflict." If the Nets fail to land a quality free agent power forward like Shareef Abdur-Rahim or Donyell Marshall, the Nets star could ask for a trade this summer." New York Daily News
Kwame Brown, the 6-11 center whom Michael Jordan selected with the No. 1 draft pick in 2001, has played his last game for the Washington Wizards, sources say, and the team is looking to trade him this summer when he becomes a restricted free agent. Brown will not be with the Wizards tonight when they play the Bulls at the United Center in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round series." Chicago Sun-Times
Speculation that Gasol is on the trading block is premature. The team has built around Gasol and will continue to do so. That said, if the Griz can move Gasol for an established superstar (i.e., Kevin Garnett) then say adios. Otherwise, Gasol is the future." Memphis Commercial Appeal
Swift is ready to go. He feels like he hasn't been afforded the opportunity to develop, and now he sees no reason to sign a long-term deal to play behind Pau Gasol. The Grizzlies hope to execute a sign-and-trade with Swift, meaning they'll sign Swift to a contract and immediately trade him to a team for a player or two or draft picks." Memphis Commercial Appeal
Antiono daniels said that he will opt out of his contract paying him 2.2 mill to test the FA market
