NBA Rumors Roundup: Latest on Nene, Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler and More

There are a bounty of rumors in the NBA focusing on both potential trades and free-agent signings, and it's not going to slow down before the season gets underway on Christmas Day.

Although there will certainly be players who inevitably get overpaid, there could be some serious bargains on the market for teams willing to shop in the discount bin.

With many teams angling for cap space prior to a loaded 2012 free-agent class, there are certain to be even more trade rumors than we're used to seeing in a traditional offseason, and that means there will be rampant speculation about where the big names will land.

Here's a look at who is in the news today.

Jeff Foster

There is a strange level of interest in Foster, but as a veteran center likely seeking just a one-year contract, he's appealing as a stopgap option in the middle for any contender with limited cap space.

Although he's spent his entire career in Indiana, the Knicks are hoping to lure him to New York by offering him a more lucrative deal for 2011-12 than other clubs might be willing to do.

It's awfully difficult to imagine Foster leaving the Pacers, considering the roots he has down in Indiana, and the team would be foolish to let him walk.

Kwame Brown

Brown was referred to as a bust and a waste of a roster spot upon the onset of his career, but teams continue to express interest in the stone-handed center.

Miami continues to search for an answer in the middle who isn't Joel Anthony, and now Brown is "strongly considering" joining the Heat for the upcoming season.

He's never been a defensive enforcer around the rim, and considering that's the type of player the Heat could use in the middle, it makes little sense for the club to rely on his services.

Josh McRoberts

McRoberts is unlikely to return to the Pacers as the team explores the free-agent market for another power forward, but that doesn't mean he's an unwanted commodity around the league.

After the Lakers were already thought to be "keen" on landing him as a backup behind Pau Gasol, the Grizzlies are now interested in bringing him aboard behind Zach Randolph.

The Grizzlies almost traded O.J. Mayo in a deal for McRoberts at last season's deadline, so it's unsurprising to see the club once again pursue the big man.

Glen Davis

When the Celtics drafted JaJuan Johnson in the first round, the writing was on the wall for Davis, who is looking increasingly unlikely to return to Boston.

He's drawn interest from a number of teams in the preliminary stages of free agency, but the Hornets have really been hot on his tail and continue to show very real interest in signing him to bolster a depleted front line.

The team may lose both Carl Landry and David West via free agency, so Davis could go to the Hornets and be ticketed for major minutes as a starter from the onset.

Shannon Brown

Brown is unlikely to return to the Lakers as there are a bounty of teams that could offer him a far more attractive deal than Los Angeles.

He's going to appeal to clubs willing to gamble on his upside and athleticism with cap space to spare, and the New Orleans certainly qualifies as one team that is going to have to roll the dice this offseason.

The Hornets have an interest in signing Brown to strengthen the backcourt, and it certainly makes sense for both parties.

Shane Battier

Battier is one veteran small forward that almost every team with a need for him would like to bring aboard, as he's known as one of the more cerebral players around the league.

In addition to being very smart on the court, Battier brings a sense of leadership and professionalism to the locker room, and that's just as important to some interested clubs as what he does on the court at this point in his career.

Miami, Memphis, Indiana and Toronto are all in the hunt for Battier's services, and he makes sense for all of those teams, although the Raptors are likely the most surprising of the group.

Grant Hill

Hill said that there was a "good chance" that he re-signs in Phoenix with the Suns upon initial workouts with the team, but that doesn't mean that they're the only club in contention for him.

In addition to the Suns, the Clippers, Knicks, Bulls and Heat are all teams that Hill is currently considering joining, and each would present a different, unique opportunity for the veteran in search of a championship.

It'd be fairly surprising to see him leave the Suns, considering how much he's said he's enjoyed his time there, but the allure of a potential championship run is certainly hard to ignore.

Josh Howard

Howard is another veteran who could help any team looking to improve the second unit, and he's likely looking for a contract that is mutually beneficial to both sides.

He'll be looking to rebuild his stock around the league after coming off a knee injury last season, and a one-year deal with a contending team could be the best way to achieve that.

The former All-Star is scheduled to meet with the Bulls, Wizards, Spurs and Nets this week. Of the teams listed, both Chicago and San Antonio likely have serious appeal as clubs that can win immediately.

J.J. Barea

Barea is going to be looking for arguably the biggest contract of his career coming off of a championship season where he played an integral role for the Mavericks, but it's going to be tough to gauge his value on the open market.

Perhaps the most volatile player in the league, not every team can carve out a role for the pint-sized guard, and therefore the range of offers he's likely to receive will vary depending upon where they're originating.

He said that the Knicks would be a "great second option" if he doesn't re-sign with Dallas, but New York doesn't have the cap space available to accommodate that request.

Caron Butler

Butler is a really intriguing target for a number of teams looking for help at small forward, considering he hasn't played in almost a year, but there should be a rebound campaign in store for this tough guy.

He's expected to visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, and with the team needing a starting small forward to improve the defensive intensity along the front line, Butler makes a lot of sense for the team.

The veteran will be looking to rebuild his stock around the league, and if he's healthy, Butler could prove to be a very serious bargain.

Nick Young

Young is inevitably going to be overpaid by some team that's desperate for scoring, and it's either going to look like a really poor deal or a very smart gamble by any team that inks him.

New Orleans is one team that is going to have to dole out more money to targets than other teams might. Considering that there's very little incentive to sign a long-term deal there with the status of Chris Paul, they've got Young firmly fixated on the radar.

He's definitely what the team could use on the offensive end, but Monty Williams is going to be screaming at him relentlessly on the defensive side of the ball if he doesn't round out his overall attack.

Tyson Chandler

There's no question Chandler is in search of his biggest payday of his career after he looked like the missing link of the Mavericks' puzzle last season, and teams are lining up to sign him.

The Warriors, Rockets and Nets all have set up meetings with the big man this week, but Golden State isn't a realistic option as the roster currently stands when examining the lack of cap space available.

He could very well wind up anywhere at this point, and while the Mavericks will almost certainly make a strong push to re-sign him, there may just be a team foolish enough to offer him close to a maximum contract.

David West

West surprised some after deciding to opt out of the final season of his deal with the Hornets despite coming off of reconstructive knee surgery, but it was the right decision, considering his name sticks out in a rather lackluster free-agent class.

New Orleans would like to re-sign West, but he's likely to pursue every option available to him in an effort to win before making his next decision.

While he hasn't slammed the door shut entirely on a return, he's going to draw enough interest elsewhere that the Hornets would likely have to come with a fairly sizable offer in order to keep him in town.

Nene

The biggest fish in the market? Perhaps. At least, that's the argument being made by those interested teams willing to roll out the red carpet for him.

He's nowhere near worthy of a maximum-level contract, but with the Nets very ardently pursuing him throughout the process thus far and a ton of cap space at the team's disposal, it's possible the team gets far too sweet with its offer.

Nene will have to make a decision about his future, and it'll have to be in a hurry, considering he doesn't have much time to get in work with his new teammates.