The Toronto Raptors have told the Cleveland Cavaliers they would do a sign-and-trade deal with free agent Chris Bosh that would send the forward to Cleveland, according to ESPN.com.

The big "if" involved: If Bosh is willing to play in Cleveland.

The feeling in Cleveland is that the report is premature and leaning more toward speculation in a free-agent frenzy that has been rife with speculation. The same day this report came out, ESPN also reported that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov told associates he believed that Bosh would join Dwayne Wade in Miami.

Perhaps Bosh now finds himself being recruited by both James and Wade.

But if the sign-and-trade did happen with Cleveland, it would clearly be huge. Because if Bosh agrees to the trade, he would then be able to get a max contract from Toronto (which he wants) and team with James in Cleveland. Which would mean the Cavs would keep James and keep their team as a serious contender.

New York, New Jersey and Miami would be disappointed, but James would be staying home ... something that apparently means something to him.

Four top teams searching for a center are among those pursuing a two-time All-Star

OK, so the best days are behind Brad Miller, 34. But Miller's agent, Mark Bartelstein, still said about a dozen teams have called about his client.

The four most interesting ones look to be Boston, Denver, Cleveland and Houston. The Celtics really need help inside due to starting center Kendrick Perkins having suffered a serious knee injury in Game 6 of last month's NBA Finals and backup Rasheed Wallace on the verge of retiring.

"If Kendrick Perkins is out and Rasheed Wallace retires, they're going to need someone,'' said Bartelstein, whose client averaged 8.8 points last season for Chicago.

In a surprise pronouncement two days before the start of the 2010 NBA free agency period, Rockets center Yao Ming told Houston's local FOX affiliate he will not opt out of his contract before the Wednesday deadline. Yao has one more season on his deal, worth more than $17 million.

Had Yao opted out, he would have joined the most star-studded free agent class since 2000.

Yao didn't play a single minute during the 2009-10 NBA season owing to a foot injury suffered in Houston's second round playoff defeat against the Lakers in May 2009. Yao had reconstructive surgery on his foot last summer. The Rockets missed the playoffs for the first time in four years.

In December, Houston GM Daryl Morey told FanHouse's Chris Tomasson he was sure Yao would keep his contract and forgo free agency. Nonetheless, Yao was expected by many -- including myself -- to bite the bullet and opt out, even though teams may have been hesitant to ink the Chinese star to a maximum-level contract.

The 2010 NBA Draft is right around the corner, and FanHouse has you covered with scouting reports, projections and even a video mock draft of the lottery. Jordan Schultz breaks down his top 14 lottery picks: click on each name for a video explaining why he's a fit for that team come June 24.

1) Washington Wizards: John Wall, PG, Kentucky (Scouting Report)

2) Philadelphia 76ers: Evan Turner, SG-SF, Ohio State (Scouting Report)

3) New Jersey Nets: Derrick Favors, SF-PF, Georgia Tech (Scouting Report)

4) Minnesota Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson, SG-SF, Syracuse (Scouting Report)

5) Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky (Scouting Report)

6) Golden State Warriors: Al-Farouq Aminu, SF-PF, Wake Forest (Scouting Report)

7) Detroit Pistons: Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas (Scouting Report)

8) Los Angeles Clippers: Ed Davis, PF-C, North Carolina (Scouting Report)

9) Utah Jazz: Greg Monroe, PF-C, Georgetown (Scouting Report)

10) Indiana Pacers: Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor (Scouting Report)



Share 11) New Orleans Hornets: Gordon Hayward, SG-SF, Butler (Scouting Report)

12) Memphis Grizzlies: Avery Bradley, PG, Texas (Scouting Report)

13) Toronto Raptors: Daniel Orton, PF-C, Kentucky (Scouting Report)

14) Houston Rockets: Xavier Henry, SG-SF, Kansas (Scouting Report)

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With the 14th pick of Jordan Schultz's NBA Mock Draft, the Rockets are on the clock...

With Yao Ming expected back next season along with the emergence of Aaron Brooks at the point and a capable scorer in Kevin Martin, the Rockets should turn to Kansas' Xavier Henry in the draft. Henry, while lacking the high ceiling that many of his lottery counterparts have, is a solid player whose defensive mindset and shooting ability is tailor-made for both the NBA, and particularly, the Rockets.

FanHouse TV's Jordan Schultz tells you why Xavier Henry should be the 14th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Now that the Wizards have struck the first blow in free agency by winning the NBA Draft lottery and thus John Wall, we can start assessing which free agent scenarios can play out this July. Wall-to-D.C. hurts the Nets, obviously, but also makes Washington a player in the summer's proceedings. But beyond Wall, other teams are setting themselves up to win this era's greatest battles: those to be fought over LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, Yao Ming, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer and Rudy Gay.



Share Bethlehem Shoals and I have considered each team's position heading into battle, and have devised seven potential scenarios fans (and other teams) should prepare for. We did assuming that this summer will unfold as a series of cataclysmic events, with LeBron's decision the first domino to fall. The new paradigm of superstars renting teams also influenced us. Now go and study these well, lest ye be caught off guard come July.

Rockets GM Daryl Morey and his team were fined undisclosed amounts in February after Morey made comments on collective bargaining on the podcast of ESPN.com writer Bill Simmons, the NBA has confirmed. The New York Daily News' Frank Isola first published news of the fine this week. Isola reported the fine was for $100,000, and discussed it in relation to Knicks GM Donnie Walsh's avoidance of potential tampering.

Morey's fine was not related to tampering, however. A review of the February 22 B.S. Report suggests Morey instead got in hot water for discussing collective bargaining negotiations. Simmons and Morey got onto the subject of Houston's 2011 free agency plans, and Simmons asked Morey how many years guaranteed contracts should be capped at. Morey, who cautioned he was speaking about his personal beliefs and not the league's stance, described his ideal salary cap system. Last summer, after a couple owners were anonymously quoted in the press talking lockout, the league reportedly told all 30 teams to hush up about collective bargaining or pay the price.

Morey, by the way, would prefer contracts were not capped, either in length or size. He told Simmons he'd prefer if there were a hard team cap on salaries, but no other regulations as to how contracts were set up. Such a system would be great for the Rockets, Morey said, because it favors teams who are prepared. To me, a hard cap with longer and bigger contracts would create parity, because you could never get more than two stars together on a team, assuming agents figured out a way to work the system. But it will never happen, so it's irrelevant.

While Mark Cuban beats back charges of tampering, Morey's fine provides a reminder of the bigger picture here: when David Stern tells you to shut up, you shut up. The fine, even assuming Isola bloated the figure in his report, seems pretty unfair for a harmless discussion of the cap. I understand discouraging team owners and employees from screaming "DOOM!" as we approach 2011. But Morey and other team bosses should be allowed to discuss their ideas openly. I'm not sure who the league is protecting here.

Now that the NBA Draft Lottery has been set, with the Wizards winning the No. 1 pick, we can delve into NBA Mock Draft season with gusto and without reserve. While many players in the draft will rise and fall before June 24, general tiers have already been molded by early analysts (especially ESPN's Chad Ford and DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony) and NBA decision-makers. We know John Wall and Evan Turner will be the first names called. We know Wesley Johnson isn't slipping too far. We know Luke Harangody ain't hearing David Stern say his name.

Then what, exactly, is the aim of this here NBA mock draft? It's a snap judgment on who makes sense where. No reporter knows anything right now (other than Wall being a prohibitive favorite at No. 1), so this is a good opportunity to use some common sense to figure out some possibilities.

With that, let's dive in and take an early stab at the 2010 NBA Draft's first round.

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Ekpe Udoh, Baylor -- 2010 NBA Draft Profile
Position: Power Forward / Center | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 240
Class: Junior | Age: 22 | Hometown: Edmond, OK

2009 Stats: 13.9 points | 9.8 rebounds | 3.7 blocks | 2.7 assists | Game Log
NBA Mock Draft Ranking: 11

Ekpe Udoh on Twitter: @The_Nightmare13 | Ekpe Udoh Video Highlights: YouTube

Ekpe Udoh Scouting Report

Strengths: Nobody is riding the high of the NCAA Tournament more than Udoh right now. In leading Baylor to its first ever Elite Eight appearance (in the modern format) this March, Udoh established himself as a shot-blocking machine capable of disrupting any offensive attack with his quick strike leaping ability and frightening length. His 133 blocks this year set the all-time Big 12 single-season record, and we know how many good bigs have come out of that league. Udoh is also a vastly improved offensive player who plays well within the offense with great fluidity, and can even step away from the block and hit a mid-range jumper. With his back to the basket, he is pretty agile displaying decent post moves and a really quick first step. In addition to his defensive presence, he is a good candidate to play early in most systems given his atypical passing ability (nearly 3 assists per game) for a big man, both out of the paint and from the high post. Udoh is also a terrific rebounder who creates a horde of second chance opportunities because he is so active on the offensive glass, with almost 4 offensive boards per game.

The Free Agent Panic of 2010 officially started last Thursday, when the Celtics bounced LeBron James and his Cavaliers from the playoffs sooner than expected. As much of a shock as this brought on, though, it was nothing new. Most NBA fans have spent the last year or more churning over various Summer of 2010 scenarios. Cleveland's big fail certainly changed the tenor of this summer; inertia doesn't seem to be on the Cavs' side anymore.

Strong as that sounds, it's still pure speculation, not that different from what had been going on for months already. From now till July, it would just be louder. Friday morning caught many people bemoaning the arrival of a truly tabloid-esque NBA news cycle, that might blot out even the Finals. But less than a week later, we'll have a new development to chew on. After the lottery on Tuesday night, the landscape for free agents could look quite different.

The Nets, Timberwolves, Kings, Clippers and Wizards are all lottery entrants who also have the cap space to be part of the free agency derby. In the most sensational terms possible, that means there are five teams with a shot at LeBron James, the most coveted free agent ever, and the most coveted prospect since King James. Of course, it's not that simple. Some have no shot at James even if they land Wall; others could benefit from adding consolation prize Evan Turner to their nucleus. And then there's all those other free agents to consider.

Either way, after tomorrow night, we may actually have something new to talk about.