Ben Maller's NBA rumors
by FOXSports.com
Elson would welcome return to Denver
Francisco Elson's first home is the Netherlands. His second? Denver. And that's where the 7-foot center would love to play next season. "I would be very excited to have the opportunity to play in Denver," Elson, who played with the Nuggets from 2003- 06, wrote by e-mail Thursday from his native Netherlands. "It's the team that drafted me and a place I call my second home. The fans have been fantastic, and I respect the staff, coach (George) Karl, and the guys on the team are all still friends." Elson is among several free-agent big men Denver is considering to replace traded center Marcus Camby. Others include former Nuggets player Chris Andersen and David Harrison, who played at the University of Colorado. -- Rocky Mountain News
Tayshaun Prince: I think Pistons should stand pat
Pistons forward Tayashaun Prince was recently interviewed by Lexington Herald-Leader sports writer Mark Maloney and talked about the possible roster changes that could impact the Pistons. Prince also talked about new coach Michael Curry and the familiarity the team has with him and what he expects from the team and what the team expects from Curry. Said Prince: "I know he's looking at several opportunities to see what's out there. But ... this is a team where I've been there six years and I've been to the Eastern Conference finals or better every year of my career. A lot of people don't get the opportunity to say that. -- Detroit Free Press
76ers continue Iguodala discussions
Team president Ed Stefanski confirmed that he has had discussions with Andre Iguodala's agent, Rob Pelinka, about signing the restricted free agent, but said he "won't talk about the negotiations." Iguodala turned down a five-year, $57 million offer last Oct. 31 and was believed to be seeking $65 million. If the two sides cannot come to terms by the start of this season and he's not traded, Iguodala would play for $3.8 million next year before becoming unrestricted next July. -- PhillyBurbs.com
Lakers Vujacic changes agents
Lakers restricted free agent guard Sasha Vujacic has changed agents and in the process has slowed things down. His last agent, Bill Duffy, said in a text Thursday that Vujacic "went back to Rob Pelinka." Vujacic was with Pelinka, who has Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher as clients, last season. -- Riverside Press-Enterprise
Blazers send coach to Spain to work with Sergio
There is encouraging news from the Canary Islands in Spain, where Trail Blazers shooting coach John Townsend has been working with point guard Sergio Rodriguez for the past week. Towsend reports that Rodriguez is improving steadily with his outside shot, which included a session Thursday during which Rodriguez hit 10 straight three-pointers from the right corner. "He's really in a groove right now,'' Townsend said from his hotel in Tenerife. The developments come as welcomed news to the Blazers, who wondered aloud how Rodriguez would respond this summer after being left off Spain's Olympic team. -- Oregonian
Warriors could let Azubuike leave to Clips
A Golden State official expected to receive a copy of Kelenna Azubuike's offer sheet today, and the Warriors will then have a week to match it or let the 6-foot-5 swingman join Baron Davis in becoming a Clipper. Azubuike made the league minimum last season and was due for a nice pay bump after averaging 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game, but it's no lock that the Warriors will bring him back. Re-signing Azubuike would take up about half their remaining cap space - assuming that the Lakers do not match the Warriors' four-year, $17 million offer to Turiaf - and limit Golden State's pursuit of other free agents. If the Warriors choose to let Azubuike walk, they will have effectively lost their entire bench from the past two seasons. -- SF Chronicle
O'Bryant will get chance with Celts
Though the Celtics are defending NBA champions and have a solid core returning, there is an opening for a player like Patrick O'Bryant. Kendrick Perkins is the Celtics' only pure center, which is the position best suited to O'Bryant's game. "I (prefer) a more post-dominant type of offense where you go to the strong side and that's what I played in college," he said. "With Nellie it was like (all) weak side and that was completely different for me. I wouldn't say I was lost, but it felt kind of different." But the strongest part of O'Bryant's game is his defense, something the C's were in the market for after losing James Posey to New Orleans. -- Boston Herald
Wolves talking to Telfair
The Wolves continue to negotiate with restricted free-agent forward Ryan Gomes and unrestricted free-agent point guard Sebastian Telfair. The team also is pursuing trade talks for a point guard, a position at which only Randy Foye is under contract. -- Star Tribune
NBC gets to borrow Doug Collins from TNT
NBC got permission to borrow Mike Breen from ABC/ESPN and Doug Collins from TNT to call men's basketball. -- Miami Herald
Arraignment for Hornets' Butler set for Wednesday
Hornets backup guard Rasual Butler will be arraigned in Miami-Dade (Fla.) County Criminal Court on Wednesday for a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit that resulted in his arrest last month in Miami Beach. In addition, Butler faces a misdemeanor charge for improper exhibition of a firearm, based on court documents supplied by Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office spokesman Ed Griffith. During the hearing, Butler will be allowed to enter a plea before a trial date is set. Butler, 29, was arrested June 23 after witnesses told Miami Beach police that a man holding a firearm had made threats. Based on the arrest report, when police arrived at the scene, Butler was seated in the rear seat of a sport utility vehicle. When officers asked Butler if he had any weapons, he said, "No, but my gun is in the car." -- New Orleans Times-Picayune
76ers Dalembert tells his side in Team Canada dispute
Samuel Dalembert didn't like reading and hearing about the negative, difficult, suddenly uncommitted member of Canada's national team he supposedly had become. He didn't like reading and hearing that he was traveling with the team in Athens, Greece, at an Olympic basketball qualifying tournament with an entourage, that he had alienated his teammates by moving his group into a penthouse in the team's hotel headquarters, and that he had demanded more shots. And, in a telephone call to the Daily News yesterday, he adamantly said he would not attempt to be reinstated with the team. The 76ers center, who achieved Canadian citizenship as a landed immigrant specifically to help Team Canada reach the Beijing Olympics, was dismissed from the squad by coach Leo Rautins before Wednesday's victory over Korea. Rautins' decision came after a disagreement with Dalembert outside the team bus. Rautins stood by his decision, even though it meant Dalembert would not be available for today's quarterfinal against Croatia or any additional games. The Canadians need a victory today and one in the semifinals to become one of the three teams in the 12-country tournament to reach China. "I'd be happy to represent Canada when things get more organized and structured," Dalembert said. "The guys [on the team] know I work hard. I wish them well, for Canada. I want them to win, to give Canada some pride, to go to the Olympics. But sometimes a man has to stand up." -- Philadelphia Daily News
Larry Brown had eyes on Stanford
Former Clippers and UCLA coach Larry Brown tells the Sacramento Bee that he was ready to take over at Stanford this year before changing his mind and signing on with Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats. -- LA Times
Wolves rookie looking to buy a Prius
Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love, 19, whose contract guarantees him $5.4 million for the next two years, won't be buying a Cadillac Escalade or similar luxury sport utility vehicle like many of his teammates. "Maybe a Prius, because gas prices are so high," he said. "I'm all about saving money so I can have some security. I'm not chasing money; I'm chasing the game." -- Pioneer Press
Spurs paid bulk of bills for venue campaign
Supporters of the venue tax often said they would spend "whatever it takes" to win voter approval for extending it, and the final campaign finance report shows the effort's biggest backer did exactly that. The San Antonio Spurs wrote a check for more than $710,000 in late June to pay off the campaign's outstanding bills, pushing the total price tag for victory to almost $2 million -- roughly twice what the campaign's backers had anticipated spending. The team contributed three-quarters of that total. The Spurs stand to benefit from $75 million worth of upgrades to the county-owned AT&T Center, which Spurs Chairman Peter Holt has insisted are necessary to increase revenues and stay competitive in the NBA. -- San Antonio Express-News
NBA star spends $140k to fly in multimillionaire's for charity
Miami Heat superstar Alonzo Mourning may be a Hall of Fame shoo-in, but his fundraising -- Zo's Summer Groove, which took place last weekend with Olympian Dwyane Wade, rapper Queen Latifah and comic Chris Tucker -- won't make the cut. According to the Groove's most recent IRS filings, the five-day event that includes golf, celebrity basketball, a gala and a comedy fest donates to various youth projects just under 30 cents per dollar raised. Non-profits donating 70 cents per dollar or better are considered efficient. ... But he could've given more, if it weren't for the dozen or so celebs who come each year. While they're not paid, many of the A-listers who come to the Groove siphon away a large bang from the buck. First-class flights, limo rides, parties and first-class hotels all are included. The event is paying an estimated $140,000-plus to fly in multimillionaire ball players like Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Lebron James, Seattle's Kevin Durant and others. And that's just the beginning.-- Palm Beach Post
Ben Maller can be heard weeknights on "The Third Shift on Fox" via the vast Fox Sports Radio Network. The show is broadcast live Monday-Friday from 2am till 6am (est). Check your local radio listenings for the FSR affiliate in your town, listen to XM Satellite Radio Channel No. 142 or via live streaming audio online at FoxSports.com/Radio. Say hi to Ben at myspace.com/benmaller. Interact with Ben's fans and talk sports on Ben Maller's forum Questions, comments and news tips can be sent to Ben via e mail at BigBen@Foxsports.com or Ben@BenMaller.com.
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