NBA Rumors: Finding 7 Nuggets of Truth

The meatiest part of NBA free agency is long since over since its rip-roaring first couple of weeks back in early July.

But that doesn't mean teams are finished searching for ways to help themselves. Plenty of solid players are still without contracts and looking for homes, and the chances most of them will be signed in some way, shape or form before training camp begins at the end of next month are pretty high.

The rumor mill churns year round when it comes to stuff like this, and sometimes it's difficult to separate what makes the most sense from what makes no sense at all.

So, here's a handful of rumors that seem to have legs, the ones that have the potential to gain a little traction between now and the opening of training camps.

Andray Blatche

One of the oddest, most disappointing players in the NBA, it's understandable that the Washington Wizards used their amnesty clause on the enigma that is Andray Blatche.

Blatche is only 25 though, which means that some teams would have to be interested in a player with his talent and skill set, not to mention size.

And it seems that's the case. IAMAGM.com is on the case, suggesting that Blatche, who has averaged as many as 17 points and eight boards per game in his NBA career, could be signing with a potential championship contender.

Both the Heat and the Spurs have interest in the big man, which makes a ton of sense. Again, he's young, talented and big. He's coming from a terrible, losing culture in D.C. and both Miami and San Antonio represent exactly the kind if environment where a player with a bad reputation can turn his career around.

This rumor feels likely to come to fruition. Don't be surprised to see Blatche catch on with a contender for short money with incentives.

Leandro Barbosa

Somehow, after years of contributing to a perennial playoff contender in Phoenix, Barbosa, a master scorer/energy guy off the bench, found himself north of the border at the start of last season, toiling for the woebegone Raptors.

Toronto dealt him to the Pacers at the trade deadline and Barbosa was back in the playoffs doing what he does best for a team working toward developing some legitimate title aspirations. But after Indiana was eliminated by Miami in the Eastern semis, Barbosa hit free agency.

Now, he's garnering interest from a team that doesn't have to build title hopes, it already has them in spades.

Last week, ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweeted that the Lakers have interest in bringing in Barbosa and on Monday, the Lakers Examiner jumped on the story as well.

There may be some competition for his services, though. Bill Ingram of Hoopsworld reports that the Cavs, who have $13.8 million in remaining cap space, are in on him as well.

For Barbosa, the decision will come down to money (Cleveland) against a chance at a ring (L.A.).

Look for the Lakers to win that argument.

Joel Przybilla

Big men who can hold their own don't grow on trees. Which is why a guy like Przybilla is a hot commodity at this point in free agency.

SI.com's Sam Amick reported on Monday that Przybilla, a 12-year veteran who has been with Portland since 2004 save for five games during the 2010-2011 season, has drawn interest from the Blazers, as well as Milwaukee (his first NBA team) and the Dallas Mavericks.

Each of these teams could use a guy like Przybilla, a giant, tough space-filler who has averaged as many as nine rebounds and over two blocks per game at certain points in his career. Of the three, none are contenders, but Dallas is probably the closest, making the Mavs the most likely destination for Przybilla, who Amick says was supposed to make his choice over the weekend.

Again, you can't teach size. This makes Pryzbilla a very appealing remaining free agent.

UPDATE: Przybilla has agreed to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Jodie Meeks

You can never have too many shooters. The drive and kick nature of today's NBA means those who can spot up, catch and shoot will almost certainly have a job come opening night.

Enter former Philly 2-guard Jodie Meeks. Meeks is a four-year veteran who has shot 37 percent from three-point range in his career, including a high of 40 percent in the 2010-2011 season.

Now, according to Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld and corroborated by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers are in on Meeks.

Medina states that the Lakers are in the market for a guard to spell Kobe Bryant from time to time, as well as be proficient from the arc. But according to Meeks's agent, David Bauman, "We're happy to talk but we're not talking the minimum for a guy like Jodie. He'll get more than the minimum wherever he signs."

The Lakers have only the mini mid-level exception of $3 million to offer anyone and Medina quotes GM Mitch Kupchak as saying the team will only use it if they get, "credible value."

Bauman also told Medina that there are "four or five other teams" in on Meeks without naming any of them. It would seem that whether he chooses the Lakers or someone else, Meeks will be well-compensated for multiple years.

Mickael Pietrus

It doesn't seem meant to be that Mickael Pietrus, one of the most pleasant surprises of the Celtics' run to Game 7 of the Eastern Finals last season, will be back in Boston.

Pietrus would be fourth on the C's depth chart at the 2-guard behind Jason Terry, Courtney Lee and Avery Bradley. He'd be behind Paul Pierce and Jeff Green at the 3. And his agent said that he wouldn't play for the league minimum under any circumstances.

The point is, Pietrus needs a home. And it appears one team is near ready to offer him one.

Last week, Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times, reported that the Milwaukee Bucks were talking to Pietrus and that Pietrus, in turn, is interested in playing for them.

In that same story, Woelfel disclosed that the Bucks were also looking at another guard/forward in C.J Miles, formerly of the Utah Jazz. But Miles signed with Cleveland over the weekend, likely enhancing Milwaukee's interest in signing Pietrus.

Whichever way it goes for Pietrus, there's no denying how valuable a role he played for the C's last year, particularly at the defensive end.

Kenyon Martin

Can you believe Kenyon Martin was the No.1 overall pick in the draft 12 years ago? Not because he's a lousy player or didn't deserve it. Just because it seems amazing what kind of career he's had and that he's still hanging around.

Martin served as a very important contributor to a Clippers team that won a gut check first-round playoff series before getting swept away by San Antonio.

Martin will wind up somewhere and Amick, again of SI.com, points out a couple of big-time outfits that may be interested in his services.

The Lakers and the Nets have their eyes on the veteran power forward, and Golden State, before bringing in Carl Landry last week, was in on him too.

From this angle, it seems the Nets are the best fit for Martin. They are in need of a little more depth up front which means more playing time.

And it would be somewhat of a poetic potential last stop in Martin's career, as the Nets (then in New Jersey obviously) were the team that took him first overall back in 2000 and they played in two finals with him as a key cog.

Amick doesn't mention a front-runner for Martin's services, nor is there word on any potential contract terms. But if he's going to end up in one of these locales, Brooklyn makes the most sense.

Anthony Tolliver

Here's a guy who is a solid rotation player able to add quickness and athleticism to the 4-spot and has had a very sturdy past couple of seasons for the T-Wolves.

The Wizards are interested, as reported by both CSNWashington.com and The Washington Post. 

Washington is in the market for a big since getting rid of Blatche and while the expectations levied upon Tolliver will be much lower than those levied on Blatche, Tolliver can still help out thanks primarily to his shooting ability.

The Wizards stand to be an interesting and improved, if not necessarily contending, team. With former No. 1 overall pick John Wall, this year's No. 3 pick Bradley Beal and new additions Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, Washington is sure to be better than it has been in recent seasons.

Tolliver represents a change in culture from having players like Blatche.

Don't be surprised if that's the biggest reason the Wizards wind up making this move.