NBA RUMORS: AFTERNOON UPDATE

By Matt Lynch & Mark J. Miller

updated 3:10 p.m. ET July 17, 2009

O’Neal stirs things up in China visit
After Shaquille O’Neal visited earthquake survivors in China this week, he autographed basketballs, causing quite a stir. The recipients of the memorabilia, mostly young children, had the basketballs taken away by school staff, inciting a flurry of internet protests. Word eventually got back to O’Neal, who signed more basketballs and dispatched them to the children. (Vancouver Sun)

CP3 thinks he’s getting traded?
In regards to a possible departure from the New Orleans squad this offseason, Hornets’ guard Chris Paul told pro-basketball news that anything is possible. Because the Hornets have the league’s highest payroll coupled with a failing economy, Paul believed he could be dealt, to which Hornets' president Hugh Weber said: “No chance.” (Dime Magazine)

Morning rumors

Bulls could take May over Boozer
Word is that the Bulls have been trying to swing a three-team deal that would bring Carlos Boozer to the Windy City and send Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas packing, but there is also a chance that Chicago could just sign Sean May, who became a free agent after the Bobcats didn’t bother giving him a qualifying offer. The Bulls apparently gave him a workout in Las Vegas and May supposedly cancelled a workout with the Clippers because he said a team had made a commitment to him. He’d certainly be cheaper than Boozer. (Chicago Tribune)

Knicks could be losing Lee to Portland
Since Utah snatched restricted free agent Paul Millsap out of Portland’s clutches, the Blazers are apparently ready to try and grab a different restricted free agent: New York Knick David Lee, who wants more than $10 million a season. Of course the Blazers could also end up signing former Laker Lamar Odom or former Sixer Andre Miller. They’ll take whatever they can get. (New York Daily News)

Pacers trying to get Andre Miller?
It’s still looking like the Sixers aren’t going to find a way to get point guard Andre Miller back onto the roster and the team is trying to find sign-and-trade deals for him. Word is that the Pacers are now interested in Miller because the team might not want to match the offer made to its own Jarrett Jack by Toronto: four years for $20 million. Miller wanted a three-year, $30 million deal but he’s got to have figured out by now that nobody is going to pay him that kind of dough for that length of time. (PhillyBurbs.com)

Warriors looking for veteran leader
While the Warriors continue to wow onlookers of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, team GM Larry Riley is getting pretty excited about the youth movement on his team: The combination of Stephen Curry, Anthony Randolph, and Anthony Morrow looks to be a great one. And Riley points out that Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins aren’t that old, either. Now he’s looking for some grizzled veteran to add to the mix, someone who can show these kids the light. (HoopsWorld)

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