Howard chooses Hawks
ATLANTA — Dwight Howard is going home.
After a lengthy afternoon meeting with the Hawks on the first day of NBA free agency, the eight-time All-Star center agreed to a three-year, $70.5 million contract with his hometown team Friday night, according to a person familiar with the situation, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
The deal has an average annual salary of $23.5 million, the same figure Howard was due before he opted out of the final year of his contract with the Rockets. The new contract cannot be signed until the end of the NBA moratorium Thursday.
It is unclear what the move means for Al Horford, the Hawks’ four-time All-Star center, who began meeting with other teams as he entered free agency. Horford reportedly was to meet with the Rockets and Celtics on Friday. Hawks management said before free agency that re-signing Horford was a priority, and the team accounted for a maximum deal in its salary cap. The Hawks could still re-sign Horford.
A contingent from the Hawks met with Howard at a restaurant in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood Friday afternoon.
Howard, who was born in Atlanta, entered the NBA out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy as the No. 1 overall pick by the Orlando Magic in 2004. He has had several opportunities to return home and play for the Hawks but declined each time. Most recently, he passed on the Hawks’ pitch and signed with the Rockets in 2013.
However, Howard recently opted out of the contract with the Rockets and reportedly was looking for a new deal in the neighborhood of that annual salary.
Grizzlies active
Mike Conley isn’t going anywhere. Chandler Parsons is coming on board.
The Memphis Grizzlies had the most productive free agent day in franchise history, retaining Conley and landing Parsons with nearly $250 million worth of spending Friday.
Conley agreed to terms on a five-year maximum contract worth $153 million and Parsons got four years and $94 million, three people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals cannot be signed until July 7.
Just like a year ago with longtime center Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies were confident from the start that Conley would remain in Memphis. He has spent all of his nine seasons there and established himself as the motor that drives the Grit ’n Grind bus. A fan favorite for his toughness and community engagement, Conley orchestrates the offense and makes sure Gasol and Zach Randolph get their touches while also playing excellent defense on the other end.
USA Today first reported Conley’s agreement.
Conley met with Dallas on Friday, but he never really considered leaving the only organization he has known after the Grizzlies made several moves to show him they were committed to staying competitive in the demanding Western Conference.
Parsons also met with the Portland Trail Blazers before deciding on the Grizzlies.
Signing Parsons is one of the biggest free agency moves the Grizzlies have ever made, and it instantly injects some much-needed energy and versatility into a lineup that appeared to have gotten a little old and stale last year.
Whiteside stays
Hassan Whiteside has been a basketball nomad since he turned professional, never lasting in one place too long because either he wanted to leave or nobody wanted him to stay. Those days are long gone now.
Sticking to his plan to decide quickly, Whiteside’s foray into free agency ended early Friday morning — only a few hours after it formally began — with him accepting a four-year offer to stay with the Miami Heat. The deal calls for Whiteside to earn $98 million, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because nothing can be signed and finalized until at least July 7.
Whiteside announced his decision on Snapchat and in a post on The Players’ Tribune. He then spent part of the rest of his day snapchatting images of himself talking to bison, birds and reindeer — “Hey reindeer, I’ll see you on Christmas,” Whiteside said at one point in a video — at a zoo, posing with a fan and enjoying ice cream.
Durant listening
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Golden State Warriors want to lure Kevin Durant and put even more offensive firepower on the floor.
Durant, the top prize in this year’s free-agent class, met with the Warriors on Friday in the Hamptons. A person close to the situation said Warriors owner Joe Lacob, general manager Bob Myers, coach Steve Kerr and All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were among those present. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
Durant, the four-time scoring champion and 2014 MVP with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is scheduled to meet with the Miami Heat on Sunday. Media reports say he also has scheduled meetings with the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers.
It makes sense for the Warriors to try to add Durant — he averaged 30 points per game against them in this year’s Western Conference finals and torched them for a careerhigh 54 points in 2014.
Durant can maximize his earning potential by signing a deal with the Thunder that allows him to become a free agent again next year, then signing a longer deal when the salary cap takes another jump.