Free agent update: Murray to Bobcats, McCants to Houston

[Roy Hobbs]

Free-agent guard Flip Murray has reached an agreement in principle to join the Charlotte Bobcats, according to NBA front-office sources.

Murray and the Bobcats have a one-year deal at the NBA's bi-annual exception of $1.99 million, with a formal signing forthcoming as early as Friday, sources said.

Murray's agent, Mark Termini, confirmed the deal when reached Thursday night by ESPN.com.

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Seeking another offensive option for training camp, the Rockets on Thursday reached agreement on a non-guaranteed contract with free agent guard Rashad McCants, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

In a move reminiscent of last season’s addition of Von Wafer, also a talented scorer who turned a longshot chance into a strong season, the spot with the Rockets would offer McCants a chance to revive a stalled career and the Rockets a no-risk look.

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[KCattheStripe]

Whole bucket of don't care. 

[Who]

I don't understand what Charlotte are doing at all. Why pay a third string point guard $2 million? On a team that is at best a borderline playoff squad and a first round loser? A team with little potential that'll likely be blown up at some point in the next couple of years? What are they doing?

McCants is a nice signing in Houston. He's a talented young player. Hopefully the Rockets will do for him what they did for Von Wafer.

[nickagneta]

I don't understand what Charlotte are doing at all. Why pay a third string point guard $2 million? On a team that is at best a borderline playoff squad and a first round loser? A team with little potential that'll likely be blown up at some point in the next couple of years? What are they doing?

McCants is a nice signing in Houston. He's a talented young player. Hopefully the Rockets will do for him what they did for Von Wafer.

TP for saving me the time write virtually, word for word the same post Who.

I will add that with Felton signing the qualifying off I'm pretty sure that means the Cats can't trade him this year. So if they are in love with Augustin and can't trade Felton why sign Murray, especially at the full LLE?

It's not like they are going to be playing him at SG unless after drafting Gerald Henderson they are now convinced after seeing him play this summer that he is nowhere near ready to be a back up SG in the NBA yet.

[Cman]

It's not like they are going to be playing him at SG unless after drafting Gerald Henderson they are now convinced after seeing him play this summer that he is nowhere near ready to be a back up SG in the NBA yet.

My guess is that he will get a fair bit of time at the SG.  Or it could mean Bell is on the block.

[mkogav]

I don't understand what Charlotte are doing at all. Why pay a third string point guard $2 million? On a team that is at best a borderline playoff squad and a first round loser? A team with little potential that'll likely be blown up at some point in the next couple of years? What are they doing?

McCants is a nice signing in Houston. He's a talented young player. Hopefully the Rockets will do for him what they did for Von Wafer.

Charlotte is on a mission to make the playoffs while posing their franchise for sale.

Both the TC and Murray moves should help the team make the playoffs this season. Don't forget they have Larry Brown as coach. Normally, his teams make a big leap in his second seasons. The TC move helps with the team sale (frees up a lot of $$$ long term)

I expect that the Bobcats will finish with a better record than the Pistons and maybe the Bulls this season. That may not be saying much, but whether they make it out of the first round of the playoffs depends more on the matchup than anything.

McCants is a good pickup for a non-guaranteed contract, but if he makes the roster, he won't offer much. Wafer played both ends of the floor, McCants only shoots, although I believe he is dating a kardashian and that must count for something?

Mk

[nickagneta]

Regarding McCants, can someone explain to me why he was treated like a pariah this off season. I thought over the last two years he was finally coming into his own as a decent SG. Sure his effort isn't always there and he can be a bit foul prone but he isn't a bad defender and can shoot the rock, even though he could use some discipline there.

But if Tony Allen could get a 2 year $2.5 million per contract last off season I find it hard to believe that McCants couldn't get even a guaranteed contract at the minimum this off season. Is there some behind the scenes stuff I am missing.

[wdleehi]

Regarding McCants, can someone explain to me why he was treated like a pariah this off season. I thought over the last two years he was finally coming into his own as a decent SG. Sure his effort isn't always there and he can be a bit foul prone but he isn't a bad defender and can shoot the rock, even though he could use some discipline there.

But if Tony Allen could get a 2 year $2.5 million per contract last off season I find it hard to believe that McCants couldn't get even a guaranteed contract at the minimum this off season. Is there some behind the scenes stuff I am missing.

TA signing was one of the biggest mistakes last year?  Maybe?  Possible?


Money is also tighter now.  Look at all the NFL blackouts this week.

[Brickowski]

McCants and Murray are both gunners without conscience and don't defend a lick.  Who cares?

I'll take Tony Allen over those guys any day.

[wdleehi]

McCants and Murray are both gunners without conscience and don't defend a lick.  Who cares?

I'll take Tony Allen over those guys any day.

I would take Murray over TA in a heartbeat.

[HomeRunBaker]

I don't understand what Charlotte are doing at all. Why pay a third string point guard $2 million? On a team that is at best a borderline playoff squad and a first round loser? A team with little potential that'll likely be blown up at some point in the next couple of years? What are they doing?

For one, Murray isn't a PG. He is a natural 2 in a PG's body and will play the 2 in Charlotte.  The reason the Bobcats signed Flip is that this team doesn't have many creative scorers on their roster and one thing Murray can do is score the ball.  Bell is the one who is likely to be moved by the deadline as he doesn't really fit into what Charlotte is trying to do.

McCants is a nice signing in Houston. He's a talented young player. Hopefully the Rockets will do for him what they did for Von Wafer.

Nobody wanted to touch McCants because he is a certifiable lunatic.  The guy has had major emotional problems from when he played down here at UNC that causes him to be a clubhouse cancer who the players don't want around because they don't know which mood swing he will have from day to day.

Both players have mental/emotional issues larger than any of the same problems that Tony Allen has.  Of course, TA has gangs of Chicago thugs wanting him dead so he's got that going for him.

[the_Bird]

An HRB sighting?  Welcome back!

[HomeRunBaker]

An HRB sighting?  Welcome back!

Thanks man. Jeff is not one to mess around with folks. Roger Goodell has nothing on him!

[Drucci]

In other free agents news, Udoka has signed for one year with the Blazers... I guess we can kiss the last possible "real" backup wing goodbye.

It's a partially guaranteed contract for the minimum veteran. I guess we could have signed him at this price but it seems that his love for Portland was too strong.

[xmuscularghandix]

In other free agents news, Udoka has signed for one year with the Blazers... I guess we can kiss the last possible "real" backup wing goodbye.

It's a partially guaranteed contract for the minimum veteran. I guess we could have signed him at this price but it seems that his love for Portland was too strong.

Daniels is a REAL backup wing, just becuase he's taking the ball up the court doesn't mean he's not a 2/3. I think we'll rarely see him on the floor defending PG's.