News keeps coming in hot off the presses from this monumental NBA free agency period. Here are some of the latest news and notes that are coming out.

Boston recently got great news in the form of Head Coach Doc River’s decision to return to the Celtics next season. As I noted though there is still a possibility that the Celtics could lose Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to another team as both players are free agents. Sources close to the contract negotiations between Pierce and the Celtics are reporting to ESPN.com that the two sides are close to an agreement on a new deal though. Paul Pierce and the Celtics are discussing a four year deal that is worth between 60-62 million dollars. If the deal stands as is Pierce will be taking a pay cut to help Boston resign Ray Allen and help bring in additional talent.

Paul Pierce is all heart on the court and hearing that he would take a pay cut to play on a championship caliber basketball team doesn’t surprise me one bit. Pierce is committed to winning and wants to see Boston back on top as evidenced by the fact that he has spent his entire twelve year career with the Celtics.

In Dallas it is being reported that Mavericks president of basketball operations Don Nelson has presented a contract offer to Dirk Nowitzki’s advisor Holger Geschwinder. The Mavericks are expected to offer Dirk a max contract (4 years, 96$ million) and the two sides are scheduled to meet again tomorrow.
When asked about how the negations are going Nelson sounded optimistic.

"It was a very productive meeting. Everything seems to be progressing nicely," Nelson said. "We're hoping that tomorrow we'll be able to get some resolution."

It seems like the Mavericks have never been the same since their NBA finals loss to D-Wade and the Heat. There is no denying Nowitzki’s talent though, he is a perennial All-Star and only a couple years removed from being league MVP. If Dallas wants to stay truly relevant in the West than they have to keep Dirk in a Maverick’s uniform that or find a way to lure King James to town.

The Atlanta Hawks meanwhile are very committed to keep star player Joe Johnson in Atlanta. There was talk that Johnson could move to Chicago or Miami to play potentially alongside LeBron James or Dwayne Wade. The Hawks are apparently having none of that though and have offered Johnson a max contract worth $119 million. Sources close to the situation have told ESPN’s Chris Broussard that Johnson will almost surely accept the deal.

As for LeBron James, yesterday James met with the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks. The Nets pitch was made by Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, Coach Avery Johnson, and rapper Jay-Z (who is part owner of the New Jersey Nets). The Knicks had Head Coach Mike D’Antoni, president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh and Allen Houston try to persuade the “King” on why he should chose NYC. Today, James met with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat. Tomorrow, LeBron will meet with the two team that are considered to be the favorites to land him; The Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Dwayne Wade will be meeting with the Chicago Bulls shortly as well, only Wade’s upcoming meeting with the Bulls will be his second. Dwayne looks to be seriously contemplating a move to the Windy City; which would pair him with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Wade is likely to make a move to another team, because his current team the Miami Heat is under salary cap constraints and only has two players under contract. Wade has said already that playing on a championship caliber team is of the utmost importance to him.

Finally, the New York Knicks are continuing to talk to Amare Stoudemire but a deal is not in place yet. Reportedly the Knicks are offering are Amare a max contract (five year $100 million). Yahoo! Sports and the New York Daily News are reporting that the “framework” of the deal is already in place. It looks as though Phoenix Suns fans should say their goodbyes to Stoudemire, negotiations between the Suns and Stoudemire’s agent Happy Walters broke off on Friday.

"It wasn't the right deal," Stoudemire's agent, Happy Walters, told The Arizona Republic.
"He'll be sad to leave his teammates and the city he loves, but it's time to move on," Walters said.

That is all the free agent news there is right now but things are moving fast and furious so more information will almost certainly come out in the coming days.

Let me know what you think of these moves with your thoughts, comments, and opinions.