Matt Barnes finally found a landing spot yesterday with the Los Angeles Lakers in his home state. He turned down a more lucrative offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a move that won’t make him much money but makes a lot of sense.
Some think the Lakers are even better now than they were last season when the club won the NBA championship.
Around the league, the Thunder signed GM Sam Presti to a multi-year extension, Chris Paul has a meeting scheduled with the Hornets and the New York Times takes a look at this year’s lower-key version of Team USA.
That and more in today’s links.
1. Matt Barnes signs 2-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Sentinel, Josh Robbins
The Buzz: Barnes, who famously antagonized Lakers star Kobe Bryant last season, now joins Bryant in Los Angeles.
2. Barnes reaches 2-year deal with Lakers, Yahoo! Sports, Adrian Wojnarowski
The Buzz: Yahoo! first broke the news of Barnes’ signing.
3. Matt Barnes declines Cleveland Cavaliers’ offer, accepts less money to play with Lakers, The Plain Dealer, Brian Windhorst
The Buzz: The Cavaliers offered more money than anyone could but Barnes wanted more to entice him to play for a non-contending team.
4. Lakers add Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff, Los Angeles Times, Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner
The Buzz: The Lakers got better defensively yesterday.
5. Armed men break into home of Bobcats’ Stephen Jackson, The Charlotte Observer, Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
The Buzz: Police said Jackson’s wife was held at gunpoint, then locked in a bathroom as the intruders stole valuables.
6. With Sam Presti in place, Thunder’s future secure, The Oklahoman, Darnell Mayberry
The Buzz: Thunder General Manager Sam Presti signed a multi-year extension with the team.
7. Sources: Paul has list, to talk to Hornets, ESPN.com, Chris Broussard
The Buzz: Sorry Magic fans, Chris Paul tops his list of preferred destinations with the New York Knicks.
8. Wolves’ exec: Beasley had ’smoked too much marijuana,’ South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Ira Winderman
The Buzz: Michael Beasley told Timberwolves President David Kahn that he doesn’t smoke anymore, though. So there’s that.
9. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets brass set to meet Monday, The New Orleans Times-Picayune, John Reid
The Buzz: Paul wants more than the Hornets are offering, and they’ll talk about it next week.
10. Not the redeem team, but still chasing a dream, The New York Times, Pete Thamel
The Buzz: Jerry Colangelo uses as motivation the fact that around the world this version of USA basketball is known as the B Team.