Jul 2nd, 2009 | 4:41 pm |

• 7:56 p.m ET The Lakers are close to reaching an agreement with Houston forward Ron Artest, The LA Times has reported. The Deal is reported to be a three-year contract worth an estimated $18 million.Artest has been meeting with Lakers executives throughout the day and is expected to agree to terms later this afternoon. The addition of Artest would basically end the Lakers’ pursuit of Trevor Ariza, who met today with the Houston Rockets. CBSSPORTS.COM was one of the first to break the story
• The Toronto Raptors are interested in rebound machine David Lee

• The Atlanta Hawks are in pursuit of Big men Rasheed Wallace and or Antonio McDyess. The Hawks also need to resigna few of their own: Mike Bibby, Zaza Pachulia andFlip Murray all unrestricted free agents.  While Marvin Williams, Solomon Jones and Mario West are all restricted free agents.

• The Celtics  Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, coach Doc Rivers, president Danny Ainge, and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck all attended a meeting in Detroit to try and convince Rasheed Wallace to sign with the Celtics. Update 8:00 p.m ET The Celtics have made an offer to Rasheed Wallace

“Everything has been pretty positive with Glen,” says Ainge of Davis. “An initial indication of the market is you see a lot of guys that were expected to opt-out of their contracts didn’t.”

“The whole pool of money for free agents probably isn’t going to be what it has been in the past,” says Ainge.

• The Charlotte Bobcats were initially rumored to be in the hunt for Allen Iverson after favorable comments from Coach Larry Brown.

“Even though there are things that went on during our careers, the work he did was phenomenal,” Brown said recently. “He wants to win, he competes every night, he plays hurt.”

However Thursday, it was reported that A.I. expressed interest in heading to Memphis.

• The Chicago Bulls haven’t made much noise on replacing Ben Gordon; perhaps holding out for a 2010 Dwyane Wade run.  Ben Gordon says the Bulls never made him an offer

“I mean, they didn’t pursue me at all,” Gordon said. “They didn’t even make an offer, so it was pretty much a one-man race.”

• On Thursday the Cavs Introducted Shaquille O’Neal. Rumors are that Cleveland is also in pursuit of Ron Artest.

• Mark Cuban will do something this off season, however lately his time has been tied up flying to New York City to offer Jason Kidd a 3 year deal.  The AP reported that Cuban had a 12:01 a.m. meeting Wednesday with Kidd in New York. Late Thursday it was reported that the Mavs have a verbal commitment from free agent center Marcin Gortat

• The Nuggets currently are focusing their efforts on resigning  Chris Andersen. Meanwhile, the Pacers have interested in guard Dahntay Jones.

• The Detroit Pistons don’t have any money left to sign an NBA free agent of any stature. However, they may still need to add a big men one way or another. Rumors on the Internet had Boozer going to Detroit in exchange for Rip Hamilton.

• Amare Stoudemire to Golden State rumors were killed Wednesday by Tim Kawakami

Two high-placed NBA sources said Tuesday that Stoudemire has little interest in joining the Warriors, especially with a roster he apparently feels would be depleted by the terms of the trade

• It appears that Ron Artest won’t be returning to Houston. A unverified rumor has  The Sixers sending Samuel Dalembert and his $23.6 million contract to the Rockets for Tracy McGrady and his $23.2 million deal. But that makes no sense for the 76ers.

• The Pacers aren’t expected to make many moves this off season- unless they can find a way to trade guards Jamal Tinsley and or T.J. Ford which is not likely to happen.  The Indy Star did report that the Pacers were interested in free agents Anthony Carter, Linas Kleiza (restricted) and  restricted free agent Marcin Gortat

• This week the Clippers  extendeded a qualifying offer to forward Steve Novak, making him a restricted free agent. On Wednesday the Clippers traded Zach Randolph to the Grizzlies in exchange for Quentin Richardson.

• In Lakerland, the news is that Trevor Ariza is basically gone after the Lakers decided not to spend big on him. The Lakers most likely will retain Lamar Odom who has not been rumored with any other teams. Some have suggested seeing how a Zen Master/Ron Artest/Kobe  marriage might work.

• The Grizzlies were contacted by Allen Iversons agent expressing interest.

• Pat Riley doesn’t like to stand pat, although the Heat are already over the Luxury Tax. Late Thursday the Miami Hearald Reported that the Heat have contacted Ron Artest. Artest played with Jermaine O’Neal in Indiana. They have been through wars together, literally. The Herald also reported the Heat contacted Allen Iverson.

• Reports are that Josh Childress who played overseas last season with the Greek power Olympiakos, will be in Milwaukee to visit with the Bucks. Childress has a clause in his contract that allows him to opt out at the end of every season-in order to entertain NBA offers. However, it gets tricky because the Hawks can still match any offer and perhaps work a sign and trade.

• In a bit of a disaster for new Timberwolves General Manager David Kahn The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Ricky Rubio will play in Spain for the next two years. However, if Rubio does play professionally that means the T-Wolves will own his rights and he can’t re-enter the draft.

• After the Nets traded away Vince Carter last week, it looks as though New Jersey is a team that is bracing space for the 2010 free agent crop. Oh and Jay Z and Lebron are friends.

• The Knicks have highlighted this years free agent frenzy so far wooing Jason Kidd. The Daily News reports that Kidd got a three hours tour. Thursday.  If the Knicks can’t get Kidd they are interested in Grant Hill. And if anyone wants Wilson Chandler the Knicks will give him up in a minute.

• The Hornets are reportedly interested in former LSU stand out Brandon Bass. The Hornets say they would still like to retain Jannero Pargo, even though the team drafted guards Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton.  Other than Pargo, the Hornets are interested in  free-agent frontcourt players Mikki Moore, Maceo Baston and Jake Voskuhl.

• The Oklahoma City Thunder have $11 million to spend this off-season.  Reports are that the Thunder are interested in forward Paul Milsap, forward David Lee .

• Orlando most likely will stand pat, after obtaining Vince Carter. Reports are that the Mavs will sign Magic back up Center Marcin Gortat.

• Philadelphia’s biggest concern is can they convince Andre Miller to stay on and not cash in on a career year?

• Tuesday the Phoenix Suns exercised the second-year team option on the contract of forward Louis Amundson. There also is a rumor of the Suns interset in Tyson Chandler

• Portland’s main focus is on Free Agent Forward Hedo Trukoglu. Also Rudy Fernandez may be a little upset with the Blazers

• On Tuesday Veteran guard Michael Finley told the Spurs he plans to return for another season. One article considers Rasheed Wallace in San Antonio

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