NBA Rumors Roundup: Nene to the Rockets, Jamal Crawford Back to Knicks and More

The 2011-12 NBA season is right around the corner, and there is already a substantial amount of free-agent and trade rumors flying around the league.

With an abbreviated offseason, teams will be making moves at record rates, and there will be a bounty of clubs looking to make an improvement from previous seasons.

Although the free-agent class comes with less anticipation than some that have preceded it, there is plenty of talent available.

Additionally, the trade market will be buzzing, and there's no doubt that makes for excitement from fans around the league as each wants to see their team improve.

Andrei Kirilenko

Kirilenko signed with CSKA Moscow in Russia during the lockout, but he'll end his stint abroad and return to the NBA in an effort to sign a multi-year deal.

After spending time in Utah, Kirilenko may be ready to move on from his former team if another franchise on his radar gives him the deal that he's angling to receive.

The versatile forward lists the Jazz, Nets, Clippers and Lakers as teams he's signing with, and it will be interesting to see if money plays a major factor in his next contract considering he's coming off of a six-year, $86 million deal.

Brandon Roy

When talking about amnesty candidates, almost everyone lists Roy as a likely victim of the new clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Due to a degenerative knee condition, Roy has been the subject of extreme scrutiny as he has more than $60 million owed to him over the next four seasons.

If he does wind up getting waived by Portland, ESPN's Marc Stein writes that it wouldn't be surprising to see Minnesota show interest in the shooting guard, as new head coach Rick Adelman is intrigued with the possibility of adding him.

Paul Millsap

Millsap is a really interesting target for teams with a need at the power forward position, as he represents a definite upgrade for most clubs in the market for a big man.

After the Jazz acquired Derrick Favors last season and drafted Enes Kanter with the third overall selection, Utah suddenly has a serious surplus of bodies down low and could look to deal a player if interested in upgrading at another area.

Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star believes the Pacers would be wise to explore Millsap as an option as the club looks to fill the void, and with significant cap space at hand, it wouldn't be shocking to see Indiana kick the tires on him.

Samuel Dalembert

Dalembert is going to be a popular free agent target for those teams with a hole in the middle, and the defensive-minded center won't have any shortage of interest from teams.

Although some Knicks fans would like the team to sign him to be the defensive force the club needs at center, it doesn't sound likely to occur as the club is clearly angling to save cap space for the potential arrival of Chris Paul.

Additionally, Dalembert has already said it would be "fantastic" to join the Miami Heat and even added that sometimes it's not all about the money, and if he's willing to sign at a discount, the team in South Beach will get even better.

Allen Iverson

Iverson wants to return to the NBA, and after stating that he'd be open to playing anywhere in an effort to do so, it will be very intriguing to track what teams might have an interest.

Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe reported prior to Thanksgiving that Iverson would be interested in signing with the Celtics, but at the time the interest on the team's side was unconfirmed.

Now, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald writes that the team has considered the possibility and may re-visit the scenario, as Danny Ainge has always "been a fan" of Iverson and previously worked to land him in Boston.

Rodney Stuckey

Stuckey's stock around the league is volatile depending upon which evaluator is asked, but there's no doubt he'll draw interest on the open market as a point guard with legitimate size.

As a restricted free agent, the Pistons will have the opportunity to match any offer he receives, and Vince Ellis of the Detroit News expects the team will do exactly that unless another club decides to drastically overpay.

It's unlikely he'll get a major payday from another team to the extent where the Pistons will let him walk out the door, and the pairing of Stuckey and rookie Brandon Knight should be a fun one to watch.

Kwame Brown

Brown's name had been previously mentioned in correlation with the Knicks as a possible target in the middle during the lockout, but it sounds as if the market for a center extends well outside of the former first overall pick.

Marc Berman of the New York Post expects the Knicks to fill the need in the middle with a one-year deal for a veteran center, and in addition to Brown lists Kurt Thomas, Tony Battie, Theo Ratliff and Aaron Gray as alternatives.

Assuming the club fills the position cheaply, it's going to add fuel to the fire that the Knicks are holding out cap space for the potential arrival of Chris Paul, and that's a rumor that's unlikely to die down anytime soon.

Rudy Fernandez

Fernandez has been on the fence about his desire to return to Europe rather than continue his NBA career for a while, and evidently, time has changed nothing for the shooter.

Despite being dealt to the Dallas Mavericks on draft day, a team that should give him a much larger role than he had in Portland, Fernandez was playing with Real Madrid during the lockout and may want to stay there long-term rather than return stateside.

However, Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype cites a source close to Fernandez as stating that the Mavericks remain "Plan A" for the shooting guard, but this is a story line to monitor closely.

Shawne Williams

Williams seemed to find his niche with the Knicks last season as a valuable reserve in the second unit, and he's made no secret about his desire to return to the team.

According to Knicks beat writer Alan Hahn, there is a "mutual interest" in having Williams return to New York, so it sounds as if the team is banking on his return.

It shouldn't be costly to retain him whatsoever, but it would be foolish to commit more than just a single season or two to Williams.

Andris Biedrins

Golden State fans are likely clamoring for Biedrins to be an amnesty cut casualty following his woeful play over the last couple of seasons, but it doesn't sound like the team is ready to give up on him just yet.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the Warriors have no plans to amnesty Biedrins, but the club will pursue one of the talented big men on the market, although it's unclear if the team has a realistic shot at landing any of them.

The Warriors don't have a ton of cap space available, so the front office will have to get creative in their decision-making about how to upgrade the roster.

Glen Davis

Davis is a fan favorite for some in Boston, but others can't stand his inconsistent play and tendency to make poor decisions with the ball in his hands.

Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald cites two sources as confirming that his camp is investigating the possibilities in Atlanta, New Jersey, New Orleans, Detroit, Denver and Atlanta.

Of the teams listed, Denver, New Orleans and New Jersey would seemingly make the most sense as each has a need at the power forward spot, but the value of his next deal will ultimately depend on whether the club views him as a legitimate starter or capable reserve.

Jamal Crawford

Crawford is going to be very heavily targeted by a number of teams with cap space available, as he's one of the best shooting guards on the open market.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News writes that Crawford has an interest in returning to the New York area if he doesn't re-sign with Atlanta, and cites both the Knicks and Nets as real possibilities.

The Knicks don't have enough cap space to offer him the deal he's likely to receive elsewhere, but the Nets have a plethora of money available and Fred Kerber of the New York Post writes that the team is definitely interested.

Nene

Nene is going to have a number of teams after him after he decided to opt out of his deal with Denver prior to the lockout, and despite the enormous amount of money the Nuggets have available, it's very possible he decides to move on.

The New York Post believes that the New Jersey Nets will be in the bidding for his services, and if he were to land with the team, he would play the power forward position alongside Brook Lopez and give Deron Williams a reason to sign long-term.

However, the Rockets are expected to go "all out" for the big man according to the Houston Chronicle, and there are certain to be even more teams interested in him as free agency gets underway.