Roy agrees to terms with Timberwolves
Brandon Roy is on his way to Minnesota to start his comeback in the same place his career began seven years ago. If Nicolas Batum has his way, he'll soon join his former Blazers teammate with the Timberwolves.
Roy agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth $10.4 million Thursday night, and Minnesota also agreed to terms with Batum on a four-year, $45 million deal with bonuses that could make the deal worth more than $50 million.
Roy announced his retirement in December after battling chronic knee injuries, and the Blazers used the amnesty clause on the remaining $63 million of his deal to make him an unrestricted free agent. But after receiving treatments on his knees over the last few months, Roy is ready to try to resume his career and will sign the offer sheet July 11 when the free agent moratorium ends.
Batum's path to Minnesota will be much more difficult. As a restricted free agent, the Blazers can match any offer made to Batum. But his agent told The Associated Press on Thursday night that Batum is hoping Portland doesn't match Minnesota's offer or executes a sign and trade to get him to his preferred destination.
Batum and agent Bouna Ndiaye met with Blazers officials Thursday and informed them that the versatile swingman feels his best fit is in Minnesota.
Celtics land Terry, still want Allen: After deciding to bring back Boston's aging Big Three for another run at the NBA title, Danny Ainge knew he needed to surround it with more talent.
The Celtics general manager settled on former Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Jason Terry as one of the key pieces. Terry has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal for $15 million that is only waiting for the NBA's moratorium on free agent signings to be lifted on July 11 for the deal to be finalized.
Brandon Bass has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal that is also being held up until the signing date. That gives Boston back its third-leading scorer, a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 12.5 points in his first season with the Celtics.
Terry, who is one of the league's top 3-point shooters, would not keep the Celtics from bringing back Ray Allen. The 36-year-old Allen has also met with the Miami Heat, but salary cap rules allow Boston to offer him more money.
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Allen visited the Heat in Miami on Thursday. Allen was planning to remain in South Florida until today, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because no details of the meeting were publicly revealed.
Lin agrees to offer sheet with Rockets: A person with knowledge of the deal says New York Knicks restricted free-agent guard Jeremy Lin and the Houston Rockets have agreed to terms on a four-year contract offer.
The contract is worth $10.2 million over the first two seasons and $9.3 million in each of the last two years. The fourth season is a team option.
The person also told the AP that the Rockets traded Kyle Lowry to Toronto on Thursday for a future first-round draft pick with lottery protection.