Paul, Howard stay put for now; other NBA stars released

By Chris Bernucca Dec 10, 2011, 6:41 GMT

Los Angeles - Chris Paul is still a member of the New Orleans Hornets and Dwight Howard is still with the Orlando Magic - for now. But a handful of other NBA All-Stars were let go by their teams Friday.

Vince Carter, Richard Hamilton, Brandon Roy and Gilbert Arenas were waived in cost-cutting moves as a wild off season began the same day training camps opened. All but Roy, who is retiring because of a degenerative condition in his ailing knees, were expected to latch on elsewhere.

The biggest move of the day might have been centre Tyson Chandler, who told a Dallas radio station that he is leaving the defending champion Mavericks for the New York Knicks.

On Thursday, multiple reports had Paul, a four-time All-Star point guard, headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, who were to send Spanish star Pau Gasol to Houston and Lamar Odom to New Orleans, which is owned by the league. But Commissioner David Stern vetoed the deal in the 'best interest of the Hornets.'

On Friday, Hornets general manager Dell Demps said the team had been 'given autonomy to make another trade' involving Paul, who can become a free agent next summer and has told the Hornets he would not sign a contract extension.

Howard, the best big man in the league, also can become a free agent in 2012 and reportedly has told the Magic he wants to be traded to the New Jersey Nets. ESPN reported that the superstar met Thursday night in Miami with the Nets' billionaire Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov and general manager Billy King, which would be a violation of the league's tampering rules.

'Contrary to published reports, the New Jersey Nets did not meet with Dwight Howard,' King said.

Carter, an eight-time All-Star, was released by the Phoenix Suns, who saved 14 million dollars and cleared salary cap room with a 4-million-dollar buyout. The Suns also re-signed veteran Grant Hill and signed guard Shannon Brown, who had been with the Lakers.

The Mavericks were pursuing Carter as they tried to quickly plug holes in their roster.

Chandler, their defensive anchor, would receive a reported four-year, 58-million-dollar deal from the Knicks, and forward Caron Butler, injured most of last season, inked a reported three-year, 24-million-dollar pact with the Los Angeles Clippers. Dallas also signed free agent big man Brandan Wright.

Hamilton, a three-time All-Star with two years and 25 million dollars left on his contract, reportedly was negotiating a buyout with the Detroit Pistons, who re-signed forward Tayshaun Prince to a four-year deal and forward Jonas Jerebko. Hamilton was expected to be courted by the Chicago Bulls.

Roy, a three-time All-Star, told the Portland Trail Blazers he would retire. He had three years and 50 million dollars left on his contract and was considered a candidate for the amnesty clause, which allows teams to release a player and not have his salary count against their salary caps.

The Magic did use the amnesty clause on Arenas, a three-time All-Star with knee issues and 62 million dollars over three years left on his deal.

Orlando also traded forward Brandon Bass to the Boston Celtics for forward Glen Davis and signed guard Larry Hughes.

The Miami Heat, who lost to Dallas in the NBA Finals, signed veteran forward Shane Battier, who had been with Memphis. They also re-signed guard Mario Chalmers and forwards James Jones and Juwan Howard.

The Atlanta Hawks signed swingman Tracy McGrady, a former scoring champion slowed by injuries, and Serbian forward Vladimir Radmanovic. They also re-signed centre Jason Collins.

The Sacramento Kings re-signed guard Marcus Thornton and signed forward-centre Chuck Hayes, who had been with Houston. They also renounced their rights to centre Samuel Dalembert to clear salary cap space.

The Philadelphia 76ers re-signed forward Thaddeus Young. The Oklahoma City Thunder re-signed guard Daequan Cook. And the Utah Jazz re-signed guard Earl Watson.

Guard Kyrie Irving, the top pick in the 2011 draft, was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who also signed first-round pick Tristan Thompson.

Other first-round picks who signed were Utah's Enes Kanter of Turkey and Alec Burks, Detroit's Brandon Knight, Sacramento's Jimmer Fredette, Philadelphia's Nikola Vucevic, New Jersey's Marshon Brooks, Chicago's Jimmy Butler and Portland's Nolan Smith.

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